Aces rally comes up short
Trailing 2-0, the University of Evansville volleyball team picked up a win in the third set and was one point away from forcing a fifth set before a late Bradley rally gave them a 3-1 win on Sunday at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
UE (3-6, 2-5 MVC) was paced by Alondra Vazquez, who recorded 24 kills with Melanie Feliciano just behind with 19. Cecilia Thon recorded 27 assists with Allana McInnis adding 25. Vazquez had a team-best 20 digs, finishing with a big 20-20 performance. Rachel Basinski added 18 digs for UE. Bradley (4-3, 4-3 MVC) saw Hannah Thompson lead the way with 18 kills while Kora Kauling added 42 helpers.
GAME 1
A quick start to the day saw the Braves jump out to a 6-2 lead in the opening game. Evansville made its first rally, cutting the gap to one (10-9) on a kill by Elise Moeller. A kill by Melanie Feliciano a few points later saw UE back within one at 14-13, but the Aces could not get over the hump with the Braves countering to open the day with a 25-19 win and a 1-0 lead.
GAME 2
A kill by Alondra Vazquez helped UE jump out to a 3-1 lead in the second frame before the Braves grabbed their first advantage at 5-4. After Evansville tied it up, Bradley scored the next three points and did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the set. They extended the lead to 17-12 before Evansville got within a pair at 19-17 when Vazquez posted a kill and Cecilia Thon added a service ace. Bradley regrouped and pulled away for a 25-20 decision.
GAME 3
Bradley picked up an early 5-3 edge before the Purple Aces knotted it at 5-5 before going in front, 8-7. Two Vazquez kills coupled with one from Moeller finished up the stretch. The Braves wrestled the lead back in their favor, going up 12-10, but the Aces countered with a 5-2 spurt to go back in front. After taking a time out, Bradley tied it up at 15-15, but it was Vazquez who give her team the lead for good. Her kill was the start of a 6-0 run that gave the Aces a 21-15 lead and Evansville would cruise to a 25-18 win.
GAME 4
Using the momentum gained from its win in game three, Evansville broke a 6-6 tie by scoring three points in the fourth set. Vazquez had two kills in that stretch. A pair of Feliciano kills, coupled with another ace by Thon set the Aces up with a 17-10 lead. The Braves took a time out and responded with six in a row to get within one. UE countered to jump back in front at 22-19 on a Springer kill. Bradley had one final run left, rallying back to tie it up at 23-23. UE retook the lead and was one point away from forcing a fifth set before the Braves stormed back to clinch the match with a 27-25 win in the fourth.
On Monday, the squads meet again in a 6 p.m. match inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
