Aces erase 1-0 deficit to win by a 3-1 final
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Just four players recorded a kill for the University of Evansville volleyball team, but that was enough for the Purple Aces to record a 3-1 win over Indiana State on Monday night inside ISU Arena.
Giulia Cardona led all players with 24 kills while Alondra Vazquez finished the evening with 21. Madisyn Steele tallied 14 kills, finishing just one shy of her career mark. Vazquez picked up a game-high 19 digs with Blakeley Freeman posting 14 and Cardona chipping in 12. Kora Ruff had a solid match, registering 51 assists and 9 digs. Hannah Watkins and Vazquez each recorded one solo block and four block assists.
Set 1 – INS 25, UE 18
It was the Sycamores taking the early lead, going up 6-3. Madisyn Steele racked up a pair of kills to cut the deficit to a single point at 9-8. From that point, Indiana State slowly took control. A service ace extended the lead to 18-11 and ISU would take the set by a final score of 25-18.
Set 2 – UE 26, INS 24
Three kills by Alondra Vazquez saw the Purple Aces open the second set with a 4-0 lead. Indiana State turned the tables, reeling off six in a row to take their first lead of the frame. Giulia Cardona picked up a kill in a 6-2 rally that put Evansville in front at 10-8.
After ISU retook a 12-10 edge, Cardona added another kill as the Aces jumped back in front with a 17-13 advantage. In a set that featured significant runs by both squads, the Sycamores stormed back once again. Their latest run saw them go in front by a 22-20 score but once again – the Aces countered. Trailing 24-22, Vazquez picked up two kills before Cardona added two of her own to finish the set on a 4-0 run to tie the match up at 1-1.
Set 3 – UE 25, INS 18
Each team enjoyed an early lead in the third set before Evansville turned a 3-3 tie into a 7-4 lead. Laura Ruiz picked up an ace while Cardona and Steele capped off the stretch with kills. The Sycamores made their way back, retaking the lead at 12-11 on a UE error.
A pivotal rally ensued for UE. Four points in a row, including three Vazquez kills, changed the trajectory of the game. Indiana State got as close as two points before the Aces pulled away to take a 25-18 decision and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set 4 – UE 25, INS 21
Out of the gate, it looked as if the Aces would win in a landslide as they opened the set with a 10-2 lead. Cardona was UE’s biggest contributor to open the frame, adding four kills to her tally. ISU did not give up and used a pair of kills to cut the Aces lead to 13-10.
Vazquez ended the stretch with another kill and started a run that resulted in an 18-12 advantage. Evansville held strong from there, clinching the match on the strength of a 25-21 decision.
This weekend, the Aces remain on the road at Bradley and Illinois State.
