Rachel Vespucci '19 opened her junior season right where she left off in 2016-17. She not only finished her sophomore campaign as the only player in the Empire 8 with a double-double average, but she's the only one to do so through the first week of the 2017-18 season. Vespucci paces the conference in rebounds per game (10.7) and is tied for the team lead in points per game (12.3).
The Macedon, New York, native logged double-doubles in each of the first two games of the year, beginning with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance in the home- and season-opener against Hilbert inside Speidel Gymnasium. Two days later in the first round of the Max Ziel Tournament, hosted by Oswego State, Vespucci recorded season highs in points (15), rebounds (14) and free-throw makes (7), as the Soaring Eagles blew out Keystone by 31 points, 63-32. The junior then solidified her spot on the All-Tournament Team in EC's 53-40 victory over the Lakers for the tournament championship with eight points, eight boards and three assists.
Vespucci has been a key cog for the Soaring Eagles, who are off to one of their finest starts in team history. Still undefeated at 3-0, Elmira has opened a season with three consecutive wins for the first time since the 1997-98 season, a year that the Purple and Gold went on to win a program-record 22 games. The EC women will look to continue the perfect start, following a brief hiatus during the holiday break, as the Soaring Eagles return to action on Monday, November 27, with a 6:00 p.m. road tilt against Penn College.
