Volleyball completes 2024 season
UE falls to Indiana State in finale
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a hard-fought match on Wednesday, the University of Evansville volleyball team came up just short in a 3-1 decision to Indiana State at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Angelica Gonzalez had a spectacular match, finishing with 21 kills while Josdarilee Caraballo recorded 13. Ainoah Cruz posted a career-high 36 digs while Kora Ruff added 27 to go along with her 40 assists. ISU was led by Kira Holland’s 17 kills.
Senior Madisyn Steele officially finished her career as the most efficient hitter in program history and the first to hit over .300 over the course of her time with the program. She broke the record of .277, which was set by two previous players.
Set 1 – Indiana State 26, UE 24
Kora Ruff picked up an ace as UE scored the first three points of the evening. Indiana State fought back, tying the set at 6-6 before taking their first lead at 11-10 and pushing it to 14-11. A reversed call put momentum back on UE’s side and Lexi Owen followed with an ace that saw the Aces retake a 16-15 edge.
The back-and-forth sequence continued with the Sycamores jumping back on top at 20-18 while the Aces made their comeback, utilizing a kill by Josdarilee Caraballo to tie it up at 21-21. Angelica Gonzalez’ seventh kill of the match put UE back in front with set point, up 24-23, but the Sycamores had the final say, rebounding to take the win.
Set 2 – UE 25, Indiana State 23
Madisyn Steele recorded a kill and block to give the Aces a 7-3 lead out of the gate. Blakeley Freeman had an ace in the early stretch. Indiana State made their way back, cutting the deficit to a point (9-8), but Evansville answered as Chloe Cline, Angelica Gonzalez, and Carlotta Pascual each picked up a kill as UE pushed the lead to 15-10.
Caraballo picked up her 10th kill of the match to extend the advantage to 20-14. That is when the Sycamores made their move. Seven in a row put the Sycamores in front before Cline and Holland Morris assisted on a block to end the run. Gonzalez came up in the clutch with a block assist and kill to clinch the set and tie the match.
Set 3 – Indiana State 25, UE 21
Another nice start by Steele saw her register a pair of kills to put UE in front at 4-2. ISU took its first lead of 7-5 before consecutive Caraballo aces gave UE an 8-7 edge. After the Sycamores retook a 10-8 advantage, kills from Pascual and Ruff helped the Aces jump on top by a score of 13-12.
Just as fast as the Aces rallied, ISU countered. Another rally saw them open their largest lead at 20-14. Still trailing by six at 24-18, Evansville made a final effort to close the gap. Ruff’s second ace of the night cut into the deficit, but ISU finished the set to take a 2-1 lead.
Set 4 – Indiana State 25, UE 23
Up 2-1 in the match, Indiana State was on fire to begin the fourth, reeling off the opening four tallies. After Steele picked up a kill to get the Aces on the board, the Sycamores continued to add to the lead, going up 12-3. A 4-0 spurt got the Aces closer, but ISU rebounded to go up 20-12.
Gonzalez did her best to bring the Aces back, picking up four kills in a row as part of a 7-0 run that cut the deficit to just one at 20-19. An error by the Sycamores tied the score at 22-22 before two by ISU gave them match point where they would finish off the victory.
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