UE scores final nine points of 5th set
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent memory, the University of Evansville volleyball team overcame an 11-6 deficit in the fifth set to take a 3-2 win over Valparaiso in Friday’s Missouri Valley Conference opener at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Facing the late deficit, the Purple Aces stormed back to score the final nine points of the match to open the MVC schedule with a huge win. Giulia Cardona racked up 29 kills while Angelica Gonzalez registered a new career high with 14. Chloe Cline added seven kills and three block assists. Lexi Owen finished the night with 44 assists while Ainoah Cruz led all players with 23 digs. Valparaiso was led by Jordyn Gove’s 16 kills and 10 digs.
Set 1 – Valpo 25, UE 15
Things looked to be going Evansville’s way in the early stages when a service ace by Maddie Hawkins and a kill from Giulia Cardona set the Aces up with a 6-3 lead. The Beacons quickly regrouped with a 7-2 run to take a 10-8 lead. Another big run put them up by a 21-12 score and they would cruise to the win in the opening set.
Set 2 – UE 25, Valpo 23
After the Beacons took a 4-2 advantage out of the gate, the Aces came back to take a 7-5 lead on a Chloe Cline kill. From that point, it was a battle as the middle stages of the set saw multiple ties and lead changes. With the score knotted at 20-20, Evansville made its move.
Angelica Gonzalez recorded a pair of kills to put UE in front at 23-20. Valparaiso battled back to get within one before the Aces got the job done to tie the match.
Set 3 – Valpo 25, UE 16
Madisyn Steele recorded a kill as Evansville scored the first two points of the set. Valpo came back to take their first lead at 6-5 before extending the lead to 10-6. From that point, the never relinquished control, going up 20-13 before taking a 2-1 lead with a 25-16 win.
Set 4 – UE 26, Valpo 24
With the score tied at 3-3, Cardona added another kill before getting the job done with her serving to put UE in front at 6-3. The Beacons battled back to make it a 9-7 game but efficient serving by Blakeley Freeman, coupled with a pair of Cardona kills extended the lead to 14-9.
After three in a row by VU cut the deficit to a pair, Cline and Heidbreder combined on a block that got UE back on track as the advantage grew to five points at 17-12. The Beacons responded with a 7-0 run to go back in front. Cardona halted the stretch as the Aces scored three in a row to go up 20-19. Gonzalez and Steele assisted on a block that set UE up with a 22-20 edge and a quick response by Valpo put them back in front at 23-22.
The defense got the job done once again as Cardona and Steele tallied a block to give UE a 24-23 lead. With the Aces up 25-24, Cardona added a solo block to the scoresheet to clinch the set and send the match to the 5th.
Set 5 – UE 15, Valpo 11
Valpo had the early momentum, taking a 6-3 lead before Evansville scored a pair to pull back within a single point. The Beacons countered to go back in front at 11-6 and looked to be on their way to the win. UE had other ideas.
After a time out, a pair of Beacon errors made it a 3-point game and VU would take a time out. Following the stoppage, the Evansville offense recorded four kills in a row to go up 12-11. Valpo utilized their second time out, but the Aces continued to roll. Lexi Owen’s serving kept the Beacons off balance as UE pulled off the comeback, scoring the final nine points to seal the win.
Saturday’s match against UIC is set for a 5 p.m. start inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
