Volleyball puts up fierce battle at Drake

Aces take Bulldogs to the wire in each set

DES MOINES, Iowa – Strong performances in each set saw the University of Evansville volleyball team give Drake all it could handle, but late rallies by the Bulldogs saw them finish with a 3-0 win on Saturday at the Knapp Center.

Giulia Cardona led all players with 23 kills while adding 12 digs.  Angelica Gonzalez finished with eight kills while Chloe Cline added five.  Ainoah Cruz led the way with 15 digs while Kora Ruff recorded 29 assists.  Megan Witte paced the bulldogs with 13 kills.

Set 1 – Drake 25, UE 20

After Drake took an early 6-2 lead, the Purple Aces rallied back.  Kills by Giulia Cardona and Chloe Cline saw UE tie the score at 9-9.  Evansville was unable to take the lead as the Bulldogs answered each time the Aces tied it up.

Holding a 16-15 lead, Drake scored three in a row to go back up by four.  Evansville cut the deficit in half to get within a pair before DU fended off the challenge to take the set.

Set 2 – Drake 25, UE 21

Evansville scored the opening three points with Blakeley Freeman recording an ace.  The Bulldogs came back to tie the score at 5-5, but with the score knotted at 7-7, UE scored eight of the next 10 points to go up 15-9.  Angelica Gonzalez and Cardona picked up kills during the rally.

Another kill by Cardona set the Aces up with a 19-13 edge.  That is when the Bulldogs staged a furious rally.  Completing the game on a 12-2 run, Drake took a 2-0 match lead.

Set 3 – Drake 25, UE 19

UE put forth another solid effort in the third set as a solo block by Josdarilee Caraballo gave her team a 2-1 lead.  After Drake wrestled away an 11-9 edge, the Aces countered with a 6-0 rally with Freeman picking up two more aces.

Things continued to look good for Evansville as a Cardona kill solidified a 17-14 edge.  Unfortunately, Drake stormed back with five in a row and a longer match-ending 11-2 run.  The Aces return home next weekend to face Bradley and Illinois State.