Cardona had 23 kills in three sets
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Giulia Cardona recorded 23 kills in just three sets as the University of Evansville volleyball team fell in the weekend opener at Belmont.
Cardona hit .300 and had nine digs and an ace to go along with her 23 kills. Three Purple Aces finished the night with four kills. Making her first appearance since the first weekend of the season, Kora Ruff picked up 28 assists and five digs. Ainoah Cruz led all players with 18 digs. Lucy Kay led the Bruins with 12 kills.
Game 1 – Belmont 25, UE 18
Kora Ruff opened the match with an ace before setting up Giulia Cardona for the kill. Belmont responded with four in a row to take their first lead.
With the Bruins up 9-8, they went on a run to push the lead to 14-10. UE rallied once again, cutting the deficit in half as a kill by Angelica Gonzalez helped her team make it a 19-17 game. Belmont had the response, completing the set on a 6-1 run to take a 1-0 lead.
Game 2 – Belmont 25, UE 21
Both teams had the lead in the early moments of the second frame, but with the score tied at 7-7, Belmont scored three in a row to take the lead for good. The 3-0 spurt was the start of a 10-3 run that put them in front by a 17-10 score.
Despite the deficit, the Aces kept fighting. Trailing 22-14, UE outscored the Bruins by a 6-1 margin to cut the deficit to 23-20. Madisyn Steele had a kill during the stretch before the Bruins regrouped to take a 2-0 match lead.
Game 3 – Belmont 25, UE 14
Another close game ensued as the squads dueled to a 6-6 score. Four in a row by the Bruins set them up with another lead they would not relinquish. They clinched the match with a 25-14 decision.
UE will look for the weekend split on Saturday with a 6 p.m. match at Murray State.
