EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Taking on the undefeated Missouri Valley Conference leaders, the University of Evansville volleyball team put up a fierce challenge but fell to Northern Iowa by a 3-1 final on Saturday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Pacing UE was Alondra Vazquez, who totaled a match-best 19 kills. Giulia Cardona finished with 11. Maddie Hawkins led the Purple Aces with 8 digs while Kora Ruff posted 32 assists.
Set 1 – UNI 25, UE 14
After the Panthers took a 4-2 lead out of the gate, UE came back with Alondra Vazquez picking up a pair of kills in a 3-0 stretch to give the Aces a 5-4 lead. UNI stormed back in a big way as they outscored UE by a 13-2 score to go up 17-7. From there, the Panthers finished with a 25-14 win.
Set 2 – UE 25, UNI 23
Evansville turned another 4-2 deficit into a lead with a Northern Iowa error giving the Aces a 5-4 edge. Both teams enjoyed leads in the middle portion of the frame. Madisyn Steele posted a kill to solidify an 11-9 UE advantage before the Panthers countered to go up 17-14.
Still down by three points at 21-18, Evansville made its move with Alondra Vazquez doing the damage. Five kills over the final stretch saw her rally the squad to a 25-23 win to tie the match.
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Set 3 – UNI 25, UE 15
Looking to retake the lead in the contest, Northern Iowa stormed out to a 7-1 lead. Evansville got as close as four points (8-4), but the Panthers answered once again as they extended the lead to 18-10 before winning the set by 10 tallies.
Set 4 – UNI 25, UE 19
Working to force a decisive fifth set, the Purple Aces had a nice start as they took multiple early 1-point leads and would take the first multi-point advantage when Vazquez picked up a kill to put UE up 9-7. The Panthers fended off the challenge and took their first edge at 10-9 and would push their lead to 15-10. From there, they held off a late challenge to take the match on the strength of a 25-19 decision.
Road matches at Valparaiso and UIC are up next for the Aces.
