CHICAGO – After putting up a strong fight in each set, the University of Evansville volleyball team fell to UIC in the weekend opener by a final of 3-0.

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Box Score

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Leading the Purple Aces for the third game in a row was Angelica Gonzalez.  She recorded 15 kills while Josdarilee Caraballo finished the night with nine.  Ainoah Cruz picked up a team-high 15 digs while Kora Ruff posted 13 digs and 21 assists.  Zahria Woodard paced the Flames with nine kills.
 
Set 1 – UIC 25, UE 19
UIC opened the night taking a 4-1 lead while Carlotta Pascual notched a pair of kills and Ainoah Cruz added an ace to give UE its first lead at 5-4.  Things stayed close until the middle portion of the set.  Holding on to a 15-13 lead, the Flames pushed the advantage to five points at 19-14.
 
Angelica Gonzalez lifted her team right back into the battle, registering a pair of kills to cut the deficit to just a pair at 20-18.  Following a time out, UIC regrouped to complete the set on a 5-1 run to take the early match lead.
 
Set 2 – UIC 25, UE 18
Game two was closely contested in the early moments.  The teams swapped the lead on multiple occasions before a kill from Chloe Cline put the Aces in front at 8-7.  Later, an error by the Flames put Evansville in front at 12-11.  That is when UIC took control.  Three in a row put them up 14-12 and they would continue to add to the lead, taking the set by seven points.
 
Set 3 – UIC 25, UE 17
Looking to finish the match, UIC scored the first five points of the set before going up by a 10-3 tally.  Josdarilee Caraballo recorded a pair of kills to cut the deficit to four points (12-8), but another run by the Flames saw them go up 20-11.  UE cut into the gap slightly, but the Flames clinched the 3-0 win.  Saturday's match at Valparaiso will begin at 5 p.m.