Phoenix Weekly: Nov. 8, 2023

11/8/2023 3:25:00 PM

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Basketball season is here! Both Green Bay basketball teams host their home openers this week at the Kress Center. The volleyball team will also host two matches this weekend, with Saturday being Senior Night.

WEEK IN REVIEW
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's basketball opened the 2023-24 season on Monday night at Hilton Coliseum against Iowa State. The Phoenix couldn't keep up with the Cyclones, falling 85-44. Noah Reynolds led the Phoenix with 14 points, while Foster Wonders chipped in with 11 points. Freshman Marcus Hall finished the night with seven points and seven rebounds.

MEN'S SOCCER
The Green Bay men's soccer team clinched the number two seed in the Horizon League Championships after a 4-2 win over Milwaukee last Wednesday. Milwaukee scored first in the tenth minute from a Raul Medina goal. Green Bay's Jake Parish responded shortly after from tie the match at one in the 16th minute. Myles Sophanavong found Chris Album for his team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 29th minute to give the Phoenix a 2-1 advantage. GB added on another byway Rohin Kapila before Medina added his second of the game to cut the Phoenix lead to 3-2. However, Myles Sophanavong notched his first goal of the season in the 77th minute to secure the Green Bay win.

Green Bay had three players named to the All-Horizon League First Team released this past Friday. Tobias Jahn was named Goalkeeper of the Year in the Horizon League and All-Horizon League First Team. Hesron Berry was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and All-Horizon League First Team. Chris Album was also named to the All-Horizon League First Team. Head Coach Jeremy Bonomo was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year. Tommy Coughlin made All-Horizon League Second Team honors.

Jake Parish was named the Under Armour Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week after his one-goal, one-assist performance against Milwaukee.

VOLLEYBALL
The Phoenix volleyball team split two road matches this past weekend, defeating Northern Kentucky on Friday before falling to Wright State on Saturday. On Friday, Green Bay swept Northern Kentucky (25-16, 25-23, 25-21). Hannah Vanden Berg and Cora Behnke both had a team-high 17 kills. On Saturday, Green Bay fell in four sets to Wright State (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 23-25). Hannah Vanden Berg and Emma Best both had double-digit kills with 14 and 13. Vanden Berg had a season-high 20 digs, while Best had 13, each securing a double-double. Emma Johnson had 46 assists and 15 digs for the Phoenix.

Vanden Berg's big week earned her the Under Armour Horizon League Player of the Week.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The GB women's basketball team dropped their season opener at Northern Iowa Monday night, 78-67. Northern Iowa held a slight 58-55 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but then outscored the Phoenix 20-12 in the fourth.

Green Bay was led by 14 points and six rebounds from Natalie McNeal. Jenna Guyer was the only other Phoenix in double figures, finishing with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. GB shot well from the floor at 44.3-percent, but struggled from deep, finishing the game 2-for-21 (9.5-percent).

A LOOK AHEAD
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Green Bay men's basketball team is in action twice in the next week. On Thursday, the Phoenix have the Jill & Company at Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group Home Opener at the Kress Center at 6 p.m. against St. Francis (Ill.). Aitor Anabitarte led St. Francis, averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season.

GB will then travel to Valparaiso, Indiana, for a road game on Tuesday against the Beacons. Valparaiso's top five scorers from a season ago have departed from the team. Connor Barrett is the Beacon's returning leading scorer, averaging 4.1 points per game.

MEN'S SOCCER
The Phoenix men's soccer team will compete in the Horizon League Championships this week in Rochester, Michigan. Green Bay earned the No. 2 seed and received a bye into the semifinals, where they will face off against No. 3 IUPUI on Thursday at 3 p.m. central time. The Phoenix won at IUPUI on October 21, defeating the Jaguars 2-1. IUPUI is led by Horizon League Player of the Year Lukas Hackaa, who is tied for fifth in in the league with seven goals and fifth in assists with five this season. Josemir Gomez is tied with Hackaa with seven goals this season for the Jaguars. For Green Bay, Album leads the Horizon League in points per game, averaging 1.64, and is second in the league with eight goals on the year. Jake Parish is tied for fourth in assists with five for the Phoenix. Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ or follow along with live stats.

SWIM & DIVE
On Friday, the Green Bay swim & dive team hosts St. Norbert at 5 p.m. at Peter F. Dorschel Natatorium.

VOLLEYBALL
The Green Bay volleyball team will host its final two matches of the regular season, with Oakland and Cleveland State coming to town this weekend. Oakland is 11-5 in the Horizon League and 17-11 overall. Patti Cesarini leads Oakland in kills per set, averaging 3.06, which is ninth in the Horizon League. Ainsley Guse is tenth in the Horizon League in hitting percentage, averaging .281. Cleveland State is currently sixth in the Horizon League with a record of 9-7 in conference play and 15-12 overall. Liberty Torres of Cleveland State is seventh in the Horizon League, averaging 3.18 kills per set. Ainslie McLaughlin is seventh in hit percentage, averaging .286.

Hannah Vanden Berg leads Green Bay with 3.26 kills per set, which is good for fourth in the Horizon League. Vanden Berg is also second in the Horizon League with 0.47 Service Aces per set. Tiffany Paalman leads the Phoenix in hitting percentage at .284. Emma Johnson is second in the HL, averaging 9.86 assists per set. Abby Gardner is seventh in the Horizon League, averaging 3.55 digs per set.

Green Bay, Cleveland State, and Oakland have all secured their spots in the Horizon League Championships next weekend. All three of the teams will be playing for seeding this weekend, with GB and Oakland in reach of the two seed. The top two teams in the standings at the end of the season receive a first-round bye in the conference championships.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Green Bay women's basketball also has its home opener this Saturday against Illinois State at Noon at the Kress Center. DeAnna Wilson is the returning leading scorer for the Redbirds, averaging 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Caroline Waite, a Bradley transfer, averaged 12.9 points per game a season for the Braves. The Phoenix brings back nine members from their Horizon League Regular Season Championship team a year ago. Of the returners, Maddy Schreiber led Green Bay, averaging 9.9 points per game. Cassie Schiltz leads Green Bay returners in rebounds per game, averaging 5.1 last season. Bailey Butler led the team in assists at 4.1 per game and steals in 1.4 a year ago.

OTHER HAPPENINGS
The 2023 Phoenix Fund Fall Drive is officially underway! Investing in the Phoenix Fund helps give Phoenix student-athletes the best opportunity to excel in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. The annual Fall Drive focuses on engaging with alumni, fans, supporters, and friends of the university to support the Phoenix Fund philanthropically. These funds enhance academic services, health and wellness, scholarships, and recruiting, among other valuable services for academic achievement and competitive preparation.

The Green Bay Basketball Coaches Show is back for the 2023-24 season. The first show took place last night at The Bar on Lime Kiln, with the next one scheduled for Dec. 18. Each show will run from 6-7 p.m. and air live on WDUZ The Fan 107.5 FM. The Bar on Lime Kiln is located at 606 Lime Kiln Rd, Green Bay, WI 54302. All shows are free and open to the public.

Calling all Phoenix youth! Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are encouraged to sign up for Phlash's Phriends, the Official Kid's Club of the Green Bay Phoenix. At just $25 per child, each member receives numerous benefits, including a free ticket to all home volleyball and basketball games, postgame court access, Phoenix apparel, and personalized Kid's Club Day activities.

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