UE drops 5-set match at MSU
MURRAY, Ky. – Josdarilee Caraballo and Brooke Herdes posted the top offensive efforts of their career on Saturday as the University of Evansville volleyball team fell to Murray State in five set.
Caraballo led the Purple Aces with 19 kills passing her previous high of 13, which happened on two occasions. She added eight digs and six service aces. Herdes completed the match with 18 kills. It bested her previous mark of 17 from earlier this season against Purdue Fort Wayne. She added 13 digs. McKenzie Laubach wrapped up the contest with 10 kills while Chloe Cline had nine.
Lexi Owen recorded 45 assists and 12 digs while Ainoah Cruz finished the match with 23 digs. Ella Vogel led the Racers with 19 kills
Game One – MSU 25, UE 15
Murray State opened the set on a 7-1 stretch and pulled away for a 25-15 win. Caraballo had a few highlights during the set posting two aces and a kill over a 3-point stretch to cut a 19-8 deficit to 19-11. MSU overcame the stretch to win by 10.
Game 2 – UE 25, MSU 20
Another quick start saw the Racers jump out to a 5-1 lead before going up 7-2. Two more aces from Caraballo saw Evansville storm back to tie the set at 9-9. Following multiple ties, the Aces finally broke through to turn a 15-14 deficit into an 18-15 lead. Kendall Agler picked up an ace during the stretch. The Aces continued to hold the lead before clinching the set on a Laubach kill.
Game 3 – UE 25, MSU 19
Fresh off their win in the second set, the Aces utilized a 6-1 run to turn a 5-5 tie into an 11-6 lead. Herdes tallied three kills as UE took control. Caraballo continued her career night with back-to-back kills that made it a 16-10 game. The Racers did their best to come back, closing to 19-17, but Herdes added four kills down the stretch to give her squad a 2-1 match lead.
Game 4 – MSU 25, UE 18
The fourth set was very similar to the opening frame with Murray State taking control early before finishing with the win. MSU jumped out to an 8-3 lead with UE battling back to make it a 14-11 game on a Herdes ace. Evansville would get no closer as MSU pulled away for a 25-18 win to force a fifth set.
Game 5 – MSU 15, UE 11
Murray State scored the opening four points before the Aces rallied back. A kill and ace from Caraballo knotted the score at 6-6. The teams battled to a 10-10 tie before the decisive portion came as the Racers scored three in a row to go up 13-10. UE was unable to overcome the rally, dropping the set by a 15-11 final.
Two home matches are on the slate next weekend when UIC and Valparaiso visit Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
