ISU finish with 3-0 victory
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NORMAL, Ill. – University of Evansville junior Alondra Vazquez posted a match-high 17 kills on Monday with the Purple Aces volleyball team falling at Illinois State by a 3-0 final at Redbird Arena.
Vazquez added 10 digs to her kill tally on the way to a double-double. Melanie Feliciano was next up for UE (5-13, 4-12 MVC) with nine kills while adding 10 digs. Rachel Basinski led the way with 16 digs while Cecilia Thon posted 16 assists. Brooke Springer posted a solo block and four block assists while Chloe Bontrager matched Springer’s assist total. Sydney Holt led the ISU (11-5, 9-3) offense with 13 kills while Stef Jankiewicz had 41 assists.
Game 1
Illinois State had an excellent start, recording the first five points of the match before going up 7-1. Evansville used a balanced attack to make its way back. Down 11-6, the Aces saw five different players record a kill with Melanie Feliciano, Hannah Watkins, Alondra Vazquez, Chloe Bontrager and Brooke Springer helping UE storm back to tie it up at 11-11. ISU countered with four in a row, but the Aces fought back once again to get back within a point at 17-16. The Redbirds slowly regained control from there, finishing with a 25-20 decision.
Game 2
Evansville once again found itself in an early hole with Illinois State jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Trailing by a 12-8 score, UE scored five in a row to take its first lead of the set. Chloe Bontrager got it started with a kill before Vazquez added one to cap off the streak. Eight ties ensued, leading to a 22-22 score. Evansville scored the next two points, but could not get the clincher. The Redbirds took advantage, outlasting UE by a 28-26 final to open up a 2-0 lead.
Game 3
In a close battle in the early portion of the set, the Redbirds were the first to extend the lead, breaking a 4-4 tie to go up 9-5. The Aces got back within two (11-9) thanks to an ISU service error, but the Redbirds had the upper hand, extending the lead before earning a 25-19 win to seal the match.
Evansville returns to Meeks Family Fieldhouse this wee
