University of Evansville Athletics

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Freshman Wren Jones recorded a career-high 20 kills to pace the University of Evansville volleyball team to a 3-2 win at Southern Illinois on Friday evening. It marked the Purple Aces' second consecutive victory to complete the season.
 
Jones' 20-kill performance passed her previous high of 16 kills. She also set a new mark with 14 digs. Ryan Scheu finished with 16 kills while McKenzie Laubach added 14. Brooke Herdes (23) and Kendall Agler (20) both reached the 20-dig mark in the win while Carsyn Kelley set her career high with 56 assists while posting 14 digs. Makenzie Miller had a solid effort with six kills and four blocks. Ella Swansiger completed the night with 16 kills to lead the Salukis.
 
Set 1 – UE 26, SIU 24
Southern Illinois jumped out to a 4-1 lead to open the match before going up 8-3. After the lead for the Salukis reached eight points at 15-7, UE started to make its way back. Trailing 18-11, the Aces scored four in a row with Lyla Fisher picking up consecutive kills. Following a time out, SIU scored to go back up by four, however, Evansville continued to fight back. Kills from McKenzie Laubach and Ryan Scheu made it a 1-point game at 21-20.
 
The Salukis regained a 24-22 lead but the Aces were not finished. Scoring the final four points, UE won the set by a 26-24 final. Laubach and Scheu each had a kill before combining on a block; Laubach added an ace to seal the set victory.
 
Set 2 – SIU 25, UE 20
After SIU went up 3-1, the Aces came back with kills by Fisher and Jones to tie the score at 4-4. Up by an 8-7 score, the Salukis scored four in a row to open a 5-point lead. SIU continued to add to its advantage, going up 24-14. Just when it looked like an easy set win for the Salukis, the Aces rallied. Helped by a Brooke Herdes ace and two Scheu kills, UE scored six unanswered points. Following a time out, the Salukis scored the clinching point to tie the match.
 
Set 3 – SIU 25, UE 18
Another early run put SIU in front at 3-1 while the Aces utilized the block to go up 6-4. Makenzie Miller picked up two block assists during the rally while another Jones kill gave her team an 8-6 edge. During the middle portion of the set, it was SIU taking control going up 16-10, but a tenacious UE squad continued to stay in the fight. Jones picked up a kill and ace to cut the Saluki lead to 19-17. Southern Illinois regrouped to finish the set on a 6-1 stretch to take a 2-1 match lead.
 
Set 4 – UE 25, SIU 22
Following a back-and-forth start to the set, the Aces took control in the middle stages. With the score knotted at 9-9, Angelica Gonzalez and Laubach picked up kills to put Evansville in front. Up 12-11, the Aces made a statement with six in a row to go up by seven. Jones had three kills during the stretch. The Salukis closed the gap late, but UE hung on to force a fifth set.
 
Set 5 – UE 15, SIU 12
Both teams took leads to open the fifth before consecutive aces by Kendall Agler helped UE go up 11-8. Southern Illinois came back with two points before the Aces went up 14-10. The Salukis cut the deficit in half until Jones had the clinching kill for the 5-set win.