NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An exciting match for the duration of the evening saw a late run in the fifth set give Belmont a 3-2 victory over the University of Evansville volleyball team on Friday evening at the Curb Event Center.

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Box Score

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Alondra Vazquez led the way with 24 kills and 16 digs.  Giulia Cardona added 17 kills, 15 digs and 5 service aces.  Kora Ruff tallied 50 assists and 12 digs while Blakeley Freeman had a strong night with 7 digs, 5 assists and 2 aces.
 
Set 1 – BU 25, UE 21
Momentum was on Belmont's side early on with the Bruins taking a 2-0 lead before extending it to 5-2.  Back-to-back service aces by Guilia Cardona knotted the score up at 6-6 before a pair of Belmont errors put the Aces in front at 11-9.
 
Madisyn Steele added a kill to set the Aces up with a 15-12 lead, but following the media time out, the Bruins reeled off five in a row to go back in front – 17-15.  UE responded to tie it up at 18-18.  Three more ties led to a 21-21 score when Belmont scored two in a row.  Following a challenge, the Bruins finished with the last two points to take the 25-21 win.
 
Set 2 – UE 27, BU 25
Once again, the Bruins had a strong start, using a 3-0 rally to take an 8-5 advantage.  It was Cardona brining the Aces back with consecutive service aces to tie the score at 8-8.  Kora Ruff picked up an ace while Vazquez registered a kill to set Evansville up with a 15-12 lead.
 
After a Bruin error gave the Aces a 17-13 edge, the home team rallied.  A 7-1 run turned the tides towards Belmont at 20-18.  UE countered with a 5-1 stretch that put them in front – 23-21.  In a wild finish, the Bruins knotted the score at 23-all with two more ties ensuing.  That is when Giulia Cardona took over.  Consecutive kills from the reigning MVC Player of the Week gave Evansville the win to tie the match at 1-1.
 
Set 3 – BU 26, UE 24
Evansville rolled to a 4-0 edge to begin game three with Vazquez recording two more kills.  Just as fast as the Aces started, the Bruins battled back, tying it up at 5-5 before jumping in front at 8-6.  The Aces took over the next segment with a pair of Vazquez kills leading to a 14-11 advantage.
 
As the set moved forward, Evansville continued to lead at 20-17, but the Bruins took control, tying the score at 22-22 and scoring the final two points in a 26-24 victory to go up 2-1.
 
Set 4 – UE 26, BU 24
Action was once again back-and-forth with multiple ties early on.  Belmont took the first 2-point lead at 9-7 before the Aces stormed back with a huge run.  UE tied it at 12-12 and utilized an 8-2 stretch to take a 20-14 advantage.  Blakeley Freeman and Cardona picked up service aces in to take the lead.
 
With Evansville looking to force a decisive set, the Bruins made the biggest rally of the night.  A 10-0 stretch saw Belmont have match point with a 24-20 lead.  Just when it looked like Belmont would win the match, Evansville made its most important run of the night.  Hannah Watkins picked up two block assists and a kill to pace a 6-0 run that gave UE a 26-24 decision.
 
Set 5 – BU 15, UE 10
Cardona tied the score early at 2-2 when Belmont countered with two in a row.  They extended the lead to three for the first time at 6-3.  Following a time out, Evansville made its run, scoring two in a row before Freeman tied it at 7-7 with an ace.
 
Vazquez recorded a block that would put Evansville in front at 9-8.  On a night that featured runs by both squads, the Bruins answered once again.  Three in a row put BU in front by a score of 11-9.  An ace extended the lead to three before the Bruins finished with a 15-10 win.
 
Tomorrow, the Aces are at Murray State for a 5 p.m. contest.