UE takes 3-1 win heading into home weekendÂ
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Giulia Cardona and Melanie Feliciano recorded 27 and 20 kills, respectively, to push the University of Evansville volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Indiana State inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Monday evening.
As a team, the Purple Aces hit .372 with Brooke Springer putting forth the most impressive statistical showing. Springer hit .875 with seven kills in eight attempts. Kora Ruff posted a season-high 57 assists in the contest, just one short of her career mark. Ainoah Cruz and Ruff paced the defense with 13 and 12 kills apiece. Springer picked up two solo blocks and four block assists.
Game 1 – Indiana State 26, UE 24
Brooke Springer and Melanie Feliciano picked up early kills to send the Purple Aces out to a 4-0 lead. Feliciano and Madisyn Steele combined on a block that extended the advantage to five points at 8-3. The Sycamores battled back to make it an 11-10 game before the Aces pushed the lead back out to four (16-12) with Feliciano picking up two more kills.
Once again, Indiana State battled back to tie the score at 19-19 before taking their first lead of the game at 21-19. Following a time out, the Aces tied it right back up at 21-all. With the score knotted at 24-24, ISU scored the final two points to clinch the win.
Game 2 – UE 25, Indiana State 21
Indiana State had the big start in game two, opening a 6-3 lead before seeing their advantage rise to five points at 13-8. Evansville used a time out and a refocused group would finish the set on a 17-8 run.
Immediately following the stoppage, the Aces went on an 8-1 stretch to take a 16-14 lead. Brooke Springer had a solo block and a block assist. Over the final moments of the set, UE opened a 4-point lead and would win by that deficit to tie the match at 1-1.
Game 3 – UE 25, Indiana State 23
Another early run saw the Aces go up by a 7-3 margin with Kora Ruff picking up an ace. Madisyn Steele picked up a solo block in the middle stages of the frame to set UE up with a 5-point lead at 13-8. Evansville continued to hold a multipoint lead at 17-13 when the Sycamores stormed back.
Scoring four in a row, ISU tied the set at 17-17. Neither squad gave an inch down the stretch with each point being tied, leading to a 23-23 score. One important part for the Aces is that they took the lead each time. Their persistence finally paid off as they tallied the final two points with an ace by Cardona clinching the set.
Game 4 – UE 25, Indiana State 12
Riding the momentum of taking the second and third sets, the Aces put together their best performance of the evening in game four. Cardona broke a 4-4 tie in a huge way as she posted four kills in a row to double up the Sycamores.
Feliciano and Steele added kills to make it a 16-7 game and UE continued to add to its lead as they clinched the match with a 25-12 victory. Evansville looks to continue its success this weekend with UIC and Valparaiso coming to Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
