Aces look for weekend split on Saturday
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Alondra Vazquez became the University of Evansville program kills leader as the Purple Aces faced Drake on Friday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Entering the match with 1,703 kills in her career, Vazquez quickly broke the mark before finishing the night with 13 as the Aces dropped a 3-0 decision to the Bulldogs. Giulia Cardona added 12 kills, 11 digs and 4 service aces. Kora Ruff finished the night with 32 assists.
Set 1 – DU 27, UE 25
History was made in the opening frame when Alondra Vazquez recorded the 1,707th kill in her illustrious career. Right off the bat, Vazquez recorded three kills to put the Aces up 5-3. Drake countered to take their first lead at 6-5 and a competitive set would ensue. Multiple lead changes saw both squads try to take control.
Evansville went up 14-12 on a Cardona kill while the Bulldogs made their way back to go in front by a 16-14 margin. Cardona would come up big once again, recording an ace that knotted the score at 17-17. Drake retook a 22-21 edge, forcing the second Aces time out of the set. An ace from Kora Ruff, coupled with kills by Cardona and Vazquez, gave UE set point at 24-22. The Bulldogs took a time out and regrouped to storm back to finish the set with a 27-25 win.
Set 2 – DU 27, UE 25
An ace by Haley Bush saw Drake open the second game on a 7-4 run. That is when Giulia Cardona once again took control. Following a kill, Cardona recorded three aces in a row to put UE on top at 8-7. The teams battled to a 12-12 tie when Drake scored three in a row to retake the 3-point advantage.
Things continued to go Drake’s way with a 21-17 edge, but Laura Ruiz added an ace to highlight a 3-0 stretch that cut the deficit to just one. After DU scored a pair, it was the Aces who had the big run. Scoring four in a row, Evansville had set point. Unfortunately, just as they did in the first set, the Bulldogs utilized a late rally to take the set.
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Set 3 – DU 25, UE 15
Looking for an early finish to the evening, Drake was on fire to open the third frame, registering six of the first seven points. Kills from Vazquez and Hannah Watkins were followed by an ace from Kora Ruff to make it a 2-point game. Once again, the Bulldogs countered to extend their advantage to 20-9 before finishing with a 25-15 win to take the match.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, UE welcomes Northern Iowa to Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
