UE falls to Redbirds
NORMAL, Ill. – University of Evansville senior Giulia Cardona posted 14 kills to lead the Purple Aces volleyball team in a 3-0 defeat at Illinois State on Saturday.
Cardona tied for the match high with her 14 kills. Chloe Cline added five for UE. Kora Ruff completed the evening with 25 assists and nine digs, both team bests. Aida Shadewald tied Cardona’s total of 14 kills to lead ISU.
Game 1 – ISU 25, UE 13
Chloe Cline and Kora Ruff combined on a block that tied the score at 4-4. Three in a row by ISU started a 15-5 stretch that put the Redbirds up by a 19-9 score. They continued to add to the advantage to take the set by a 25-13 final.
Game 2 – ISU 25, UE 23
Angelica Gonzalez got the second game started with a kill as the Aces scored the first two points. After ISU took a 9-7 advantage, UE fought back with three in a row to retake the lead. Giulia Cardona picked up a kill that would later give her team a 15-13 edge.
With Evansville up 17-16, the Redbirds reeled off four in a row to take a 20-17 edge. UE cut the deficit to one, including a 24-23 score before ISU finished the set to take a 2-0 lead.
Game 3 – ISU 25, UE 18
Another hard-fought battle ensued in the third with the teams battling to a 10-10 tie. Three in a row saw Illinois State take the lead for good. Evansville battled back, making it an 18-16 game, but the ISU attack was too much as they pulled away for the win.
Next weekend, the Aces are home to face Southern Illinois and Missouri State.
