Volleyball rallies for 5-set win over Illinois State
UE trailed 2-0 to open the night
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing 2-0 on Friday, the University of Evansville volleyball team staged a furious rally to defeat Illinois State by a 3-2 final inside Meeks family Fieldhouse.
Leading the way for the Purple Aces was Giulia Cardona. She accumulated 34 kills while hitting an unbelievable .453. Chloe Cline and Angelica Gonzalez finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Kora Ruff registered 47 assists, 23 digs, and four service aces while Ainoah Cruz totaled 19 digs.
Set 1 – ISU 25, UE 23
After Kora Ruff opened the night with a service ace, Illinois State came back to take a 3-1 lead. A pair of kills by Chloe Cline helped UE tie the game at 7-7 before a block from Madisyn Steele and Giulia Cardona put the Aces in front, 14-12.
The Redbirds battled back as they went up by a 21-19 score before the 7th kill of the night from Cardona was part of a run that put UE back on top at 23-22. ISU had one final run left, scoring the final three points to take the set.
Set 2 – ISU 25, UE 19
Things were back-and-forth throughout the early moments as Cardona quickly reached double figures in kills as the score was tied at 7-7. Illinois State was the first to establish a multi-point lead, scoring three in a row to go up 13-10. From there, they slowly added to their advantage before winning by six points.
Set 3 – UE 25, ISU 19
Madisyn Steele picked up a pair of early solo blocks as UE jumped out to a 7-4 lead. UE opened by scoring four of the first five before extending its lead to three. The Redbirds countered with a 4-0 run to take their first lead at 8-7 and would extend it to 11-8.
Kora Ruff recorded her second ace of the night as the Aces rallied to tie it at 12-12 but three in a row by ISU put them back in front. UE clawed its way back as a solo block by Chloe Cline was followed by an ace from Ainoah Cruz and a Cardona kill to put UE on top at 20-17. After the Redbirds scored a pair, it was a kill from Cardona that reestablished a 2-point lead. It was her 22nd kill of the night that clinched the game and forced a fourth set.
Set 4 – UE 25, ISU 17
Steele opened the set with a kill while Cruz recorded her second ace of the match to put Evansville in front at 5-1. ISU got within a pair, but the Aces kept the pressure on. Cardona moved past the 25-kill mark as her team took a 15-10 advantage.
It was Cardona’s serving that extended the lead even more as an ace helped UE take an 18-10 lead. The Redbirds did not go down without a fight as they fought back as the bounced back to get within four at 21-17. Two more Cardona kills set the Aces back on track and they would force a fifth set.
Set 5 – UE 15, ISU 7
Evansville scored the opening two points and Cardona continued the rally with three early kills to put her team in front at 4-2. Cline added a kill that pushed the edge to 8-4. Illinois State was unable to cut into the deficit as UE cruised to the 15-7 victory to clinch the match. The Aces will look to sweep the weekend when they face Bradley on Saturday at 5 p.m.
