SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Angelica Gonzalez Maltes tallied a team-high 13 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team fell to Akron by a 3-0 final at Coliseu Mario Morales.
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Melanie Feliciano posted 11 kills while Giulia Cardona added seven. Feliciano added eight digs to lead UE while Kora Ruff finished with 30 assists. Emanouela Christodoulou had a match-best 15 kills to lead Akron in the win as the Zips finished the night hitting .409.
Box Score
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Game 1 – Akron 25, UE 19
After Akron opened an early 4-1 edge, Angelica Gonzalez Maltes recorded a pair of kills to cut the deficit to 6-4 before a Giulia Cardona kill made it a 1-point game at 7-6. The Zips quickly regrouped to go up 15-7 before UE cut into the deficit once again.Â
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Krystell Pappas notched an ace to get her squad back within five at 19-14, but a late surge by the Zips saw them open the evening with a 25-19 decision.
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Game 2 – Akron 25, UE 17
Evansville faced another early deficit with the Zips jumping out to a 5-2 lead. UE quickly made its way back, tying the game at 5-5, but another run by Akron set them up with an 11-8 lead before extending it to 15-9, forcing the Aces to use their second time out of the set. From there, Akron held strong, cruising to a 25-17 win and a 2-0 match lead.
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Game 3 – Akron 25, UE 21
It was the Aces with the big start in the third set, picking up the opening four points of the game. Gonzalez Maltes added a pair of kills that made it a 7-2 game while Lexi Owen added a kill on the ensuing rally to force Akron to use a time out. The stoppage worked to the Zips advantage as they posted the next five before extending the run to take their first advantage at 10-9.
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UE posted the next tally to tie it up as the squads battled to a 16-16 score. The Zips registered the ensuing seven points to retake control, but the Aces staged a furious late rally. Melanie Feliciano notched her 11
th kill of the evening to cap a 5-1 stretch that made it a 24-21 game. The rally came up just short with Akron taking the frame by a 25-21 score to clinch the match.
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On Saturday, the Aces face the University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras at 6 p.m. CT.
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