UE faces Bradley on Saturday
NORMAL, Ill. – Giulia Cardona posted a team-best 8 kills while tying to the Ainoah Cruz’ high of 14 digs in Friday evening’s match at Illinois State that saw the University of Evansville volleyball team fall by a 3-0 final inside Redbird Arena.
Just behind Cardona was Melanie Feliciano with 7 kills. Lexi Owen recorded a team-high 16 assists and contributed 8 digs. Aida Shadewald led all players with 10 kills for ISU.
Game 1 – ISU 25, UE 23
Early in the opening frame, it was the serving that had UE on top. An ace from Melanie Feliciano saw the Purple Aces take a 5-3 lead before consecutive aces by Giulia Cardona put Evansville on top by a 9-7 tally. Cardona would later add a kill that gave UE a 13-12 edge.
Illinois State took its first multi-point advantage at 17-15 before the Aces rallied to tie it up at 21-21 on a Feliciano kill. The Redbirds countered with three in a row to have set point but UE bounced back with a pair to get within one before ISU scored the clinching point.
Game 2 – ISU 25, UE 17
Ainoah Cruz picked up an ace that saw UE tie the second set at 3-3 but Illinois State changed the course of the evening with a 7-2 run to go up by a 10-5 tally. Evansville trailed by a manageable 17-12 tally before ISU scored four in a row and would take a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 decision.
Game 3 – ISU 25, UE 12
With the set tied at 3-3, Illinois State reeled off four in a row to take the lead for good. Up by a 12-7 margin, the Redbirds posted five in a row and would pull away for a 25-12 win to clinch the match.
On Saturday, the Aces will be in Peoria, Ill. to face Bradley at 5 p.m.
