EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Senior Patricia Joseph had the best offensive night of her career, recording 10 kills while hitting .556 to give the University of Evansville volleyball team a 3-0 win over Indiana State on Friday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse. The win was the first for Fernando Morales since assuming the head coaching duties on a full-time basis.
"I was thinking about the pressure the girls have had with the recent streak. Not only am I happy with the win, but also how we played. That really gives us confidence heading into next week," Morales said. "We talked with Allana before the Bradley match and told her we need to have Patricia with at least 20 attacks per match. That would make it easier for our other hitters; with her having that game, it gives our outside hitters more breathing room and opens up space for everyone."
Joseph had 10 kills in 18 attempts for UE (15-10, 6-8 MVC) while adding three block assists and a solo one. Rachel Tam led all players with 13 kills while Melanie Feliciano and Alondra Vazquez finished with 12 apiece. Allana McInnis recorded 41 assists in just three sets while Gabriela Macedo added to her season dig average with 24, translating to 8.0 per set. Indiana State (5-19, 3-11 MVC) was led by a trio of players who had eight kills. Gretchen Kuckkan, Cassis Kawa and Madeline Williams each hit the mark.
Indiana State was the first to wrestle away a lead of more than a point in the opening set, going up 5-3 before UE rallied with four in a row. A Cecilia Thon ace extended the lead to 9-6, but ISU came back to retake the lead at 12-11. Neither team would give an inch, but the Aces were able to flex their muscle and go back up by three at 17-14 on a solo block by Alondra Vazquez. Later, a Rachel Tam kill made it a 21-16 game. Vazquez added an ace as UE cruised to the 25-19 win to open the night.
Evansville scored three of the first four points of the second frame before Thon's second ace of the evening put the Aces up 7-4. The Sycamores rallied back as three blocks in a row saw them take their first advantage of the set at 9-8 and they pushed it to 13-9. Tam helped Evansville storm back with five in a row as she posted two kills to help the Aces pull ahead. ISU had a rally of its own as they took a 19-17 edge. Two Vazquez kills and a pair of Indiana State errors saw UE retake the lead at 21-19. ISU overcame a pair of 2-point deficits to tie it back up at 24-24. Neither team wanted to give in. Patricia Joseph did her best to keep UE in it, posting two kills and adding a block solo. With the score tied at 31, a McInnis kill was followed by an ISU error that gave UE the win and a 2-0 lead.
Using the momentum from two wins to begin the night, the Aces got on top early in the third set. A Gabriela Macedo ace pushed the edge to 7-3 out of the gate. McInnis added an ace before the 11
th kill of the match for Vazquez set UE's lead at 15-9. The career night for Joseph continued with her efforts helping the Aces clinch the match. She registered two more kills in the third to life UE to a 25-17 win and the 3-0 match final.
Next weekend will mark the final two home contests of the season. On Friday, the Aces welcome Missouri State to Meeks Family Fieldhouse for a 6 p.m. match before the home finale on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Southern Illinois. UE seniors Patricia Joseph, Gabriela Macedo and Rachel Tam will be recognized.
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