EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Less than 24 hours after playing the longest match in NCAA volleyball history, the University of Evansville volleyball team put up a solid effort before dropping a 3-1 decision to Valparaiso.

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Box Score

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Once again, it was Giulia Cardona leading all players with 19 kills.  Melanie Feliciano added 16.  Both recorded double-doubles with 11 and 10 digs, respectively.  Madisyn Steele finished the night with seven kills.  Ainoah Cruz recorded a team-best 17 digs while Kora Ruff had 43 assists.
 
Game 1 – UE 29, VU 27
Ainoah Cruz had a service ace that sent the Purple Aces out to a 4-1 lead to open the match.  Later, Giulia Cardona picked up back-to-back aces in a run that saw UE double up the Beacons at 12-6.  Valpo took charge in the next sequence as they fought back to tie the set at 14-14 before taking their first lead of the night at 16-15.
 
The Beacons would lead by a pair at 21-19 but the Aces stormed back with Feliciano adding another kill.  Valpo had three shots at set point with UE battling back each time.  With the score tied at 27-27, Cardona and Feliciano picked up kills that clinched the opening set victory for Evansville.
 
Game 2 – VU 25, UE 22
Blakeley Freeman opened the second set with her first service ace of the match as the squads battled to a 6-6 tie.  Maddie Hawkins entered to serve and her ace was part of a 3-0 rally that gave UE a 9-6 lead.  The Aces continued to hold the advantage until the Beacons fought back to take a 15-14 advantage.
 
Emilee Scheumann and Madisyn Steele assisted on a block and Feliciano recorded an ace that set UE up with an 18-15 lead.  With the Aces continuing to hold a 20-18 lead, VU rallied to finish the set on a 7-2 run to tie the match. 
 
Game 3 – VU 25, UE 17
In the third set, Valpo broke a 3-3 tie with three in a row and would push that lead to five points when a UE error made it 13-8.  From there, they would win by a final of 25-17.
 
Game 4 – VU 25, UE 19
After scoring the first four points, VU took an 8-2 edge before going up by eight at 14-6.  Evansville worked to cut into the deficit when a Madisyn Steele kill was followed by two more Feliciano kills that got UE within five (16-11).  With Valpo up 23-16, Evansville scored three in a row to inch closer, but the deficit was too much to overcome as UE fell by a 25-19 final.
 
Evansville is back on the road next weekend with matches at Illinois State and Bradley.