EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a 25-8 loss in the first set, the University of Evansville volleyball team took two of the ensuing three sets before coming up just short in the fifth as Drake took a 3-2 win on Friday at the Knapp Center.
Melanie Feliciano recorded a match-high 23 kills while Giulia Cardona added 21. Both picked up double-doubles with Cardona totaling 17 digs and Feliciano finishing with 10. Ainoah Cruz finished the evening with 15 digs. Kora Ruff totaled 36 assists with Madisyn Steele and Cardona picking up two blocks each. Leading Drake was Haley Bush with 21 kills.
Game 1 – Drake 25, UE 8
Holding a 5-3 lead, Drake scored four in a row, which would be the start of a 14-2 stretch that put them up 19-5. The Bulldogs would cruise to the 17-point victory in the opening frame.
Game 2 – UE 25, Drake 22
Evansville did an excellent job of putting the first set behind them. Three early Melanie Feliciano kills led to a 5-3 lead. The Bulldogs tied it up at 6-6 before the Aces wrestled away a 13-11 edge with Feliciano and Giulia Cardona picking up kills.
Drake took three subsequent leads, but a 3-0 run was a big turning point for the Purple Aces. Down 18-16, a pair of Feliciano points put her team back in front. After Drake tied it at 19-19, it was Feliciano putting her team in front for good. Two more kills made it a 21-19 game. DU got back within one before a Feliciano ace and Cardona kill finished off the set.
Game 3 – Drake 25, UE 14
Ainoah Cruz picked up an early ace with Evansville taking a 2-0 lead. Cardona picked up a kill to put her team back up by a 5-3 score and it looked as if the teams would have another battle to the finish. The Bulldogs had other ideas. A 9-0 run turned the deficit into a 12-5 lead. UE was unable to overcome the rally as the Bulldogs took a 2-1 match lead with the 25-14 decision.
Game 4 – UE 25, Drake 22
It was the Aces who had the lead throughout the majority of the fourth set. Two more aces from Cruz put her team up by a 5-1 score. Feliciano was credited with her second ace of the match to solidify an 11-5 lead.
The lead for UE grew even more when an error by the Bulldogs gave UE an 18-11 advantage. Capped off by a pair of service aces, the Bulldogs reeled off six in a row to get within one point before eventually tying it up at 21-21. Evansville forced two errors to retake the lead while Feliciano finished off the 25-22 win with a kill.
Game 5 – Drake 15, UE 8
A quick start by the Bulldogs saw them take a 4-1 lead. Evansville did its best to come back, getting within one at 7-6. The Bulldogs countered with five in a row and would clinch the match with the 15-8 win in the fifth game.
Tomorrow, the Aces will be in Cedar Falls to face Northern Iowa at 6 p.m.
