Panthers win by 3-0 final
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Facing the top squad in the Missouri Valley Conference, the University of Evansville volleyball team put up a solid effort before falling by a 3-0 final to UNI on Saturday night inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Hinsley Everett led the Purple Aces with 11 kills while Josdarilee Caraballo had six. Ainoah Cruz led all players with 18 digs while Kora Ruff tallied 17 assists. Cassidy Hartman posted a match-best 12 kills to pace the Panthers.
Game 1 – UNI 25, UE 20
Early kills by Hinsley Everett and Ryan Scheu gave UE a 4-2 lead. Northern Iowa battled back to take a 7-6 lead before going up 14-7. After UNI took a 19-11 lead the Aces stormed back. Sabrina Ripple and McKenzie Laubach combined on a block to make it a 20-15 game before Laubach recorded a kill on the ensuing point to cut the deficit to four.
Josdarilee Caraballo picked up an ace that was followed by a Panther error that got Evansville even closer at 21-19. UNI regrouped and completed the set with a 25-20 win.
Game 2 – UNI 26, UE 24
Two block assists by Laubach helped the Aces open the game on a 6-1 stretch. Caraballo finished the rally off with a kill. A bad set by the Panthers extended the lead to 8-2. After that, UNI slowly made its way back as they cut the deficit to 14-12. Caraballo picked up a kill to end the stretch before an ace by Kendall Agler made it a 17-13 game.
Four in a row by the Panthers tied the game at 17-17 and the teams would go back-and-forth to the finish. After UNI went up 21-19, Everett picked up a pair of kills to tie the set. Later, Ripple’s solo block tied things up at 24-24. The Panthers had the final rally once again, posting the last two points to clinch a 2-0 lead.
Game 3 – UNI 25, UE 10
UNI took control opening a 6-1 advantage before pushing the lead to 12-4. From there they went on to win by a final of 25-10 to clinch the match.
