University of Evansville Athletics

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Thursday's weekend opener saw the University of Evansville volleyball team put up a strong fight against Valparaiso before falling by a final of 3-1 at the ARC.
 
Lyla Fisher and Wren Jones led the Purple Aces with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. McKenzie Laubach added nine kills, three digs, and three blocks while Savannah Gogel tallied seven blocks and eight kills. Brooke Herdes finished with 22 digs and Carsyn Kelley totaled 17 digs and 33 assists. Jordyn Gove led the Beacons with 24 kills.
 
Set 1 – Valparaiso 25, UE 23
Valparaiso took an early 8-5 lead with the Purple Aces countering with a 5-0 run to jump in front at 10-8. McKenzie Laubach assisted on a pair of blocks during the run. With the score tied at 13-13, UE went on a 6-2 run to push the advantage to 19-15. Wren Jones picked up a pair of kills as Evansville rallied.
 
Lyla Fisher added a kill that set her team up with its largest lead at 22-17. The Beacons stormed back with five in a row to tie the score at 22-22 before finishing with a 25-23 win.
 
Set 2 – UE 32, Valparaiso 30
Another quick start set the Beacons up with a 6-2 lead out of the gate. Ryan Scheu got UE back on track with a kill and the Aces would come back to tie the set at 7-7 before taking a 9-8 edge on a Lyla Fisher kill. Evansville held strong through the middle portion of the set going in front 16-13 when Carsyn Kelley and Savannah Gogel registered a block.
 
Just as they had in the first set, Valparaiso fought back once again. After tying the score at 17, the Beacons wrestled away a 22-19 advantage. Efficient serving by Kendall Agler anchored a 5-0 run that gave the Aces a 24-22 edge. Valpo came back to tie the score at 24-24 and the squads battled in extra points before Wren Jones picked up the decisive kill in a 32-30 decision to tie the match.
 
Set 3 – Valparaiso 27, UE 25
In the opening moments, the Beacons opened a 6-3 advantage with the Aces coming back to take a 9-8 lead. Gogel added a solo block and block assist during the stretch. The Beacons countered to retake a 3-point lead at 14-11 before three in a row from the Aces knotted the score. Valpo came back with four in a row to go up 18-14, however, Evansville had a rally of its own to tie the game at 20-20. Gogel recorded another kill and block in the run. Laubach tallied a kill that tie the score at 25-25 before the Beacons posted the final two tallies to take the set.
 
Set 4 – Valparaiso 25, UE 14
After Evansville took a 2-1 lead, it was all Beacons from there They took a 14-4 advantage before clinching the match with a 25-14 decision.