Contributions from across the board secure the winÂ
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Significant contributions up and down the roster saw the University of Evansville volleyball team earn its third victory in a row on Friday night, defeating Samford by a 3-1 final at the Pete Hanna Center.
Evansville’s duo of Giulia Cardona and Melanie Feliciano paced the offense with 18 and 17 kills, respectively. Feliciano hit a team-high .390. Coming off a 10-kill effort on Tuesday against USI, Emilee Scheumann set a new career high with 12 kills on Friday. Kora Ruff recorded a double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs while Ainoah Cruz set another career mark with 27 digs.
Two of the top blockers in the Missouri Valley Conference added to their totals on Friday. Madisyn Steele picked up three solo blocks and one block assists while Brooke Springer notched one solo and two block assists. Gracie Lynn Butler was the top performer for the Bulldogs, finishing with a match-high 19 kills.
Game 1 – Samford 25, UE 22
Melanie Feliciano recorded three early kills as the Purple Aces took the early 9-7 lead. Her fourth of the night broke a 9-9 tie but the Bulldogs posted their first large rally of the contest. Scoring six of the next seven points, Samford opened a 15-11 lead.
With Samford opening a 23-18 lead, UE battled back as Feliciano, Giulia Cardona and Emilee Scheumann posted kills in a 4-0 run that made it a 1-point game before the Bulldogs scored the final two points to take the set.
Game 2 – UE 25, Samford 21
Samford scored the opening five points of the second frame as they looked to take a commanding 2-0 match lead. Feliciano helped the Aces break through, notching the first point of the set as her team made a furious rally. Scoring 11 out of 14 points following the slow start, Evansville went in front by a score of 11-8.
Blakeley Freeman played a pivotal role during the sequence, posting an ace along with efficient serving over six points. Samford got as closer as one point (12-11) before a 4-0 run by the Aces stretched the lead back out to five. Feliciano registered two more kills late in the set as the Aces tied the match on the strength of a 25-21 decision.
Game 3 – UE 25, Samford 20
In the early moments of the third set, it was Brooke Springer coming through to give UE a comfortable lead. Three blocks in the first six points put her squad up by a 5-1 score. Evansville took multiple leads of six points before a Scheumann kill made it a 15-8 game.
Evansville continued to add to the lead as Scheumann picked up three more kills as the advantage grew to nine points (22-13). The Bulldogs closed the gap late as UE cruised to the 25-20 win to take their first match lead of the evening.
Game 4 – UE 25, Samford 20
Looking to finish the match, Evansville had another strong start, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Scheumann picked up three more kills to extend the advantage to 9-2. Later in the set, the Aces continued to hold a 7-point lead as consecutive solo blocks from Madisyn Steele made it a 19-12 game.
Four in a row by the Bulldogs cut the lead to four, but following a time out, Scheumann registered a kill to halt the Samford run. From there, the Aces regrouped to clinch the match by a final of 25-20 in the fourth set.
Next up for UE is a 2 p.m. match on Saturday against North Alabama.
