Phoenix Weekly: Aug. 30, 2023

8/30/2023 1:00:00 PM

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Welcome to the first edition of Phoenix Weekly! Every Wednesday, Green Bay Athletics will provide a look ahead to preview upcoming contests, recap games from the previous week, and give updates on promotional giveaways and other general announcements.

WEEK IN REVIEW

MEN'S SOCCER
Soccer season came in full throttle last week when the men's team kicked off the 2023 campaign against Memphis on August 24. It was a close game from the start, with the two teams each recording 14 shots, but the Phoenix fell 2-0. Keegan Walker, So Nishikawa, and Jake Parish each had three shots for GB.

Green Bay had just a few days to prep for Western Illinois before clashing against the Leathernecks this past Sunday. The Phoenix responded well after the season-opening loss to Memphis, defeating WIU 1-0. Keegan Walker scored the game's lone goal. Jahn's effort in goal earned him Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
The women's soccer team had a couple of firsts in the opening weeks of the 2023 season. Junior midfielder Grace Miller scored her first career goal on Aug. 17 against Kansas State, and in a 1-1 draw at DePaul on Aug. 25, Aleah Reesman did the same. GB dropped their first two contests of the season at home against Kansas State and Drake, and drew DePaul on the road as mentioned earlier.

VOLLEYBALL
Green Bay volleyball had a successful opening weekend at the Rumble in the Rockies hosted by Wyoming. The Phoenix swept South Dakota State in the season opener thanks to 12 kills from Cora Behnke. Behnke was again strong in GB's second game of the tournament against Wyoming, leading the team with 13 kills. However, the Cowgirls capitalized with timely points at the end of sets to sweep GB 3-0. The Green & White dominated Winthrop in the final game of the weekend, sweeping the Eagles 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21). Vanden Berg led the way with 10 kills and two aces in the win.

Vanden Berg was a two-way force in the opening weekend and currently leads the team in kills (28) and digs (30).

A LOOK AHEAD
MEN'S SOCCER
Phoenix men's soccer will conclude their season-opening three-game homestand on Friday when they host Southern Indiana at noon. The team will then head east to battle Boston College and Detroit Mercy, before returning home on September 16 to face Purdue Fort Wayne. The contest will also coincide with Alumni Weekend and a celebration of Aldo Santaga, the legendary soccer coach, who passed away last year.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
GB women's soccer will travel to Stetson later this week before visiting Western Illinois and South Dakota State next week. Green Bay won't have another home until Sept. 14, when they begin Horizon League action against Wright State.

VOLLEYBALL
Green Bay is heading south this weekend to play three games at the Clemson Invitational. They'll open the weekend with South Alabama on Friday at 12 p.m. before taking on Western Carolina on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Clemson at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fans can follow the action all weekend long on with live stats. GB's game against Clemson will be streamed on ACCNX.

CROSS COUNTRY
Cross Country opens their season this weekend at the Tom Barry Invite hosted by St. Norbert. The race will be a familiar one for the Phoenix runners, as its being run at the Phoenix Alumni Cross Country Course at Shorewood at the campus of UWGB. The women's 5K will start at 10 a.m. followed by the men's 6K at 10:45 a.m.

OTHER HAPPENINGS

Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade are encouraged to sign up for Phlash's Phriends, the Official Kids 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.

Green Bay Athletics and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are teaming up for UWGB Night on Thursday, September 7. All UW-Green Bay students, faculty, and alumni can purchase $2 tickets to see the Milwaukee Brewers' High-A affiliate take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Men's Basketball Head Coach Sundance Wicks will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Promotional offers for the game include $3 craft beers and $3 brats. The first 1,000 fans to enter through the gates will also receive a batting helmet courtesy of Titletown.

The women's basketball team announced on August 25 that registration is now open for the 2023-24 Phoenix Phenoms Clinic. Girls in grades 1-8 can sign up for two hours of instruction from Phoenix coaches and players. Campers will also receive free admission to a select home game in December 2023 or January 2024. For more information, click here.

Kevin Borseth also announced several promotions yesterday, elevating Megan Vogel to Associate Head Coach and Sarah Bronk to Assistant Head Coach. Vogel had been an assistant coach since 2013, while Bronk originally held the same title since 2007.

In volleyball news, fans can look forward to the upcoming home schedule by viewing the 2023 promotional schedule, which was unveiled yesterday. Highlights include the ninth annual Attacking Alzheimer's Night on October 27, Pinkout on October 28, and Camper's Weekend on September 14-16. Visit the official promotional release for more details.

Lastly, Sundance Wicks formally invited men's basketball alumni to Alumni Weekend, which is taking place January 25-27. The weekend will coincide with two Phoenix home games, as Oakland comes to town on Thursday, Jan. 25 and Detroit Mercy will come a few days later on Saturday, Jan. 27.