UE back in action on Sunday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Friday’s USI Invitational opener saw the University of Evansville volleyball team drop a 3-2 match to USI inside Screaming Eagles Arena.
Another big performance saw Giulia Cardona finish with 26 kills and 13 digs. Playing in her first match of the season, Ainoah Cruz tallied 23 digs while Cardona added 13. Angelica Gonzalez and Chloe Cline posted 8 and 7 kills, respectively. Lexi Owen wrapped up the match with 35 assists. Five USI players recorded double figure kills led by Jasmine Green and Bianca Anderson who had 15 apiece.
Set 1 – UE 25, USI 23
Evansville took the early 2-0 lead before USI fought back to go up 6-4. They continued to add to the lead as they took a 17-11 edge. Back-to-back service aces from Giulia Cardona highlighted a 4-0 run that cut the deficit to 17-15. An error by the Screaming Eagles allowed UE to get within one (19-18), but USI retook a 23-19 lead.
Helped by a service ace by Blakeley Freeman, the Aces stormed back. Her ace made it a 23-22 game before the rally continued. Following a time out, Cardona knocked down the final two kills to seal a 25-23 win and a 1-0 lead. Evansville reeled off the final six points to take the set.
Set 2 – USI 25, UE 14
After UE scored the opening point on an Angelica Gonzalez kill, USI took control. They opened a 9-4 advantage before extending the lead to 20-9. Things continued to go their way as they tied the match with a 25-14 win.
Set 3 – UE 25, USI 21
Things were close in the early moments as the teams swapped the lead on multiple occasions leading to a 10-10 score. That is when Cardona took control. Following a block, she posted consecutive aces to give her team a 13-10 lead. Madisyn Steele registered a kill that pushed the lead to 19-13.
USI never gave up and fought back within a pair at 22-20, but the Aces held strong with Chloe Cline notching two late kills to seal the 25-21 lead and a 2-1 match lead.
Set 4 – USI 25, UE 11
A big start saw the Screaming Eagles take a 6-2 lead out of the gate. Kills by Cardona and Cline cut into the deficit, but USI retook control and pulled away to force a fifth set on the strength of a 25-11 victory.
Set 5 – USI 15, UE 9
Jenna Heidbreder’s first kill of the evening was a big one as it capped a 5-3 start to the frame. USI scored the next two as they tied it up before a Cardona kill put Evansville back in front. The tides turned with the score knotted at 9-9. USI scored the final six points to seal the match.
Sunday’s tournament finale will see the Aces play IU Indianapolis at 2 p.m. at Screaming Eagles Arena.
