Vazquez adds 19 kills
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VALPARAISO, Ind. – Finishing with 12 service aces, the University of Evansville volleyball team earned a huge road victory at Valparaiso, defeating the Beacons by a 3-1 final on Friday evening at the ARC.
Alondra Vazquez added 19 more kills to her program record while tallying 24 digs in the victory. Giulia Cardona added 15 kills and 14 digs while Emilee Scheumann had a strong 11-kill performance. Kora Ruff and Blakeley Freeman added 14 digs each while Maddie Hawkins picked up 10 – her first double digit effort. Madisyn Steele added eight kills and three block assists. Ruff led the way with 49 assists and four aces while Laura Ruiz and Cardona picked up three apiece.
Set 1 – UE 25, VU 17
At the start, both teams duked it out leading to a 5-5 score. Evansville made the first significant run of the game, scoring four in a row to go up 9-5. Emilee Scheumann and Madisyn Steele posted a block during the stretch.
Following a time out, the Beacons stormed back to go in front at 12-11 as a 7-2 run put them in front. Steele quickly put the lead back in the Aces hands at 13-12 and Alondra Vazquez finished off a 4-0 rally with a kill to make it a 16-12 game. UE continued to add to the advantage with a Giulia Cardona ace extending the lead before Scheumann had the clinching kill in a 25-17 win.
Set 2 – VU 25, UE 21
Giulia Cardona was credited with a kill to give Evansville the first multi-point lead either team would enjoy to that point in the second frame when she made it 7-5. The Beacons countered with a 4-0 stretch to retake the lead.
With Valpo enjoying an 11-10 advantage, they would add to it with a 5-2 run to go up 16-12. Trailing 21-17, UE made a final rally when Vazquez recorded consecutive kills to cut the gap to a pair, but the Beacons finished the set with a 25-21 win to tie the match.
Set 3 – UE 25, VU 23
From start to finish, the Aces put together a strong performance in game three to take a 2-1 lead. Laura Ruiz and Kora Ruff picked up service aces that put the Aces in front at 7-3. Ruiz would add her second ace to stabilize a 13-10 Evansville edge.
Valparaiso rallied to tie the score at 13-13, but it was another ace that pushed the lead back to three as Ruff added her second one of the set. Once again, the Beacons fought back to tie the score, doing so at 21-21. Maddie Hawkins recorded an ace and it was Vazquez picking up the clinching kill.
Set 4 – UE 25, VU 20
Evansville utilized its serving to jump out to a 6-1 advantage to open game four. Ruiz added one before Ruff tallied two more in the early stretch. The lead for UE remained at five (11-6) when Valpo made its run, scoring five in a row to tie the score before Vazquez put UE back on top.
The definitive run came with the Aces up 15-14. Cardona registered a kill and helped UE go on a 7-1 run to go up 22-15. Valpo made a late run before UE clinched the match with a 25-20 win. Tomorrow, the Aces look for the weekend sweep as they take on UIC at 5 p.m.
