EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another efficient performance across the board saw the University of Evansville volleyball team complete its home season with a 3-1 triumph inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Saturday evening.
Giulia Cardona finished the night with a match-high 26 kills. She added eight digs, five service aces and two blocks. Melanie Feliciano completed the match with 19 kills along with eight digs and three aces of her own. Ainoah Cruz led the way with 14 digs while Kora Ruff tallied 46 assists and 10 digs. Madisyn Steele got the job done on the block, recording four block assists. Four Racers finished with double figure kills, led by Haidi Miliou’s 15.
Following the contest, seniors Emilee Scheumann and Brooke Springer were honored on their Senior Day. Scheumann tallied six kills and four digs while Springer had three total blocks in her final home match.
Game 1 – UE 25, Murray State 20
With the score tied at 3-3, Evansville scored five of the next six points to open an 8-4 lead. Giulia Cardona capped off the run with consecutive service aces. The third kill of the night by Cardona pushed the lead to 10-5. Murray State pushed back, making it a 1-point game when an Ella Vogel kill cut the deficit to 11-10.
Melanie Feliciano picked up an ace and Emilee Scheumann followed with a kill to give the Aces some breathing room with a 15-11 edge. The second ace from Feliciano capped off a 6-0 run that extended the advantage to 18-11 and the Aces would take the set by a 25-20 final.
Game 2 – Murray State 25, UE 15
Murray State took control from the start as a pair of Darci Metzger aces gave them a 7-1 lead. Feliciano picked up a kill for UE’s second point of the set, but the Racers kept the pressure on and would not let the Aces within six points for the duration of the frame, taking a 25-15 win to tie the match.
Game 3 – UE 25, Murray State 23
Madisyn Steele opened the third game with a kill and Evansville proceeded to open a 5-2 lead. The Racers stormed their way back with five in a row to go up 7-5 before extending the lead to 10-6. Evansville got back on track with a 5-0 run with Cardona doing most of the damage. Two kills and an ace from the junior put her team back in front.
In the next sequence, it was Murray State who retook control as they wrestled away a 17-14 lead. The back-and-forth action continued with Evansville jumping back in front at 21-18 with Maddie Hawkins posting the ace as part of a 5-0 rally. The Racers closed the gap to one (23-22) but a huge block by Scheumann and Steele helped the Aces clinch the set and retake a 2-1 match lead.
Game 4 – UE 25, Murray State 21
Following two Racer points to open the set, Evansville reeled off six in a row to jump out to a 6-2 advantage. Kora Ruff notched a kill during the stretch. Feliciano recorded her third ace of the night to push the lead to 11-4. Murray State never gave up and pulled back within two points thanks to a 5-0 run that cut the UE lead to 12-10.
Scheumann and Feliciano registered kills that pushed the lead back to 16-12. The Racers remained within shouting distance, getting with a pair (21-19) in the late moments, but the Aces held strong to clinch the match.
A trip to Indiana State completes the season for the Purple Aces. They head to Terre Haute on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. CT contest.
