UE Volleyball Team Opens Home Slate With 3-0 Sweep Over USI
Aces Take Down USI In Tuesday Match-Up
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Squaring off for the first time as Division I opponents, the University of Evansville volleyball team took down the University of Southern Indiana by a 3-0 final on Tuesday night inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
It was a complete team performance with the Purple Aces hitting .409 while holding the Screaming Eagles to .236. One day after being named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career, Alondra Vazquez led all players with 13 kills. Giulia Cardona picked up 12 while Melanie Feliciano had 11. Kora Ruff had 38 assists and two kills while picking up nine digs. Feliciano led both squads with 10 digs.
Set 1 – UE 25, USI 23
It was a big start for the Aces, who jumped out to a 4-0 lead with Alondra Vazquez recording a pair of kills. UE continued to hold the lead, going up 12-7 on another Vazquez kill. At that point, the Screaming Eagles made a run, scoring seven in a row to take their first lead of the night at 14-12. USI extended the lead to 18-15 before Evansville rallied back.
Kills from Madisyn Steele and Melanie Feliciano knotted the score at 18-18 before Vazquez put the Aces on top at 22-21. The Screaming Eagles continued to fight back, tying it back up at 23-23 before Kate Tsironis and Feliciano picked up the final two kills to give UE a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2 – UE 25, USI 18
Both teams held early advantages in game two before Evansville turned a 5-5 tie into an 8-5 lead. The run was completed by the second kill of the set from Kora Ruff. It was Ruff coming through later, adding a service ace that padded the lead at 13-7.
From that point on, UE kept the pressure on and did not let the Screaming Eagles within four points as the Aces finished the set with a 25-18 decision. Laura Ruiz recorded a late service ace before Feliciano finished the set with a kill.
Set 3 – UE 25, USI 16
Using the momentum from the opening two frames, the Purple Aces put it all together to clinch the sweep. It was the Screaming Eagles who had the early success, taking a 5-3 edge. Feliciano came through with a service ace to give UE its first lead of the set at 8-7. USI refused to go away quietly as they knotted it up at 10-10.
That is when reigning MVC Freshman of the Year Giulia Cardona took over. Picking up three quick kills, Cardona helped UE score six in a row. From there, the Aces put it in cruise control, coasting to the 25-16 win with Hannah Watkins picking up the clinching point to give UE its second-consecutive 3-0 sweep.
This weekend, the Aces are back on the road, heading to the Golden Eagle Invitational. Hosted by Tennessee Tech, the Aces will also face Northwestern and Western Carolina.
