EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the fourth time this season, Giulia Cardona reached the 30-kill threshold to pace the University of Evansville volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Belmont inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Cardona hit an efficient .435 in the win while adding eight digs. Melanie Feliciano registered nine kills and seven digs. Brooke Springer anchored the defense with seven total blocks, including three solo. Kora Ruff notched 44 assists and Ainoah Cruz picked up a game-high 21 digs. Three Belmont players reached double-digit kills with Brooke Gilleland totaling 13.
Game 1 – UE 25, Belmont 22
Belmont had the early momentum, turning a 2-0 deficit into an 11-5 lead. Giulia Cardona recorded three early kills before playing a pivotal role in the comeback. Cardona’s serve was spot on as the Aces dug out from a 12-6 hole with four in a row. She picked up an ace during the sequence.
Down 16-14, it was Melanie Felciiano’s turn to take control. A kill got her squad back within one before her first ace of the evening gave Evansville a 17-16 lead. The Bruins countered to take a 21-20 edge before the Aces stormed back with four in a row. Cardona’s third ace of the set along with a kill from Madisyn Steele highlighted the run. Evansville would clinch the set on a Belmont service error.
Game 2 – Belmont 25, UE 22
After the Bruins took a 3-1 lead out of the gate, the Aces bounced right back. Efficient serving from Feliciano and two Cardona kills put Evansville in front – 8-4. Brooke Springer and Feliciano assisted on a block that pushed the lead to its highest at 14-9. The Bruins chipped away at the deficit and their persistence paid off when consecutive Brooke Gilleland kills knotted the score at 18-18.
UE retook a 19-18 edge, but the Belmont rally continued with four in a row to establish a 22-19 edge. The Aces did not give up, posting the next two tallies before the Bruins finished off the set to tie the match.
Game 3 – UE 25, Belmont 16
Evansville had a big start after spotting the Bruins two points. Madisyn Steele got things started with a kill as UE scored four in a row. Kills from Feliciano and Cardona pushed the lead to 7-3. Belmont made its run, closing within a pair at 13-11. The Aces quickly countered with three in a row to make it a 5-point game.
The turning point came when Cardona converted a kill with her team up 17-13. Her point was the first of four in a row as UE went up by eight before clinching the set by nine points – 25-16.
Game 4 – UE 25, Belmont 11
Early in the set, the Aces had the momentum, holding a 3-1 lead before pushing its lead to six points at 14-8. Feliciano tallied two more kills during the run. After Belmont scored the next two, Evansville stormed back to finish the night. Scoring the next seven in a row, the Aces pulled away to a 21-10 lead before clinching the match on the strength of a 25-11 decision.
On Saturday, the Aces complete the home slate with a 6 p.m. match against Murray State.
