UE falls to SIU in season finale
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Seniors Kora Ruff and Maddie Hawkins were honored as the University of Evansville volleyball team completed the 2025 season on Saturday at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Evansville dropped the finale by a 3-1 final to Southern Illinois. Hinsley Everett finished with 11 kills while Josdarilee Caraballo recorded 10 kills. Ainoah Cruz had 18 digs while Lexi Owen tallied 17 assists. The Salukis were led by Cecilia Bulmahn’s 15 kills.
Set 1 – SIU 25, UE 19
Southern Illinois opened the match scoring five of the first six points before going up 9-2. Lexi Owen recorded consecutive service aces to cut the deficit to three and Josdarilee Caraballo picked up a solo block and kill to tie the score at 13-13. At that point, SIU scored nine in a row to grab control. UE made it interesting down the stretch scoring five in a row, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Salukis took the set.
Set 2 – SIU 37, UE 35
Evansville trailed by an early 3-1 margin until Caraballo picked up a kill to tie the score at 3-3. Chloe Cline and Makenzie Miller assisted on a block to give UE a 5-4 lead, however, the Salukis bounced back to go up 10-7. Caraballo added another kill to tie the game at 12-12 while Ryan Scheu picked up a kill to put the Aces on top at 19-18. The squads swapped the lead down the stretch before heading into extra points. Both teams had chances to win but it was the Salukis outlasting the Aces to take a 2-0 lead.
Set 3 – SIU 25, UE 20
Two block assists and a kill by Chloe Cline set UE up with a 4-1 advantage. Lexi Owen recorded an ace to make it a 6-2 game. The Salukis stormed back to take a 10-9 lead but the Aces regained the lead as a Caraballo kill helped to make it a 15-11 contest. Another kill by Cline established a 17-14 lead before SIU rallied. A 7-1 run gave them a 21-18 lead and they would hang on to clinch the match.
