University of Evansville Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Day two of the Bellarmine Classic saw the University of Evansville volleyball team put up solid fights against Rutgers and Bellarmine. Saturday's opener versus the Scarlet Knights saw the Purple Aces fall by a 3-1 final before dropping the second contest at Bellarmine in straight sets. UE now sets its sights on Tuesday's home against SEMO.
 
MATCH 1 – Rutgers 3, UE 1
 
Three Rutgers players registered double digit kills as they picked up a 3-1 win over the Aces in Saturday's opener. Lyla Fisher led all players with 15 kills while hitting an efficient .333. Ryan Scheu added nine kills while Wren Jones added eight. Kendall Agler recorded a match-best 16 digs while Carsyn Kelley posted 36 assists. Makenzie Miller got the job done defensively with four block assists and one solo.
 
Set 1 – Rutgers 25, UE 22
 
Each point was tied in the early moments leading to a 5-5 score. Kills from Fisher and Sabrina Ripple put UE in front at 8-5 before the Scarlet Knights countered to go up 12-10. Evansville continued to battle with another Fisher kill helping her squad tie the set at 17-17. With things tied at 19-19, Rutgers scored four in a row and would win by a 25-22 final.
 
Set 2 – UE 25, Rutgers 18
 
After falling behind by a 5-1 margin, the Purple Aces used a late surge to tie the match at 1-1. Trailing by four out of the gate, UE rallied to go up 7-6 thanks to a Brooke Herdes service ace. Evansville would not trail again. Up 14-12, the Aces scored five of the next seven to take a 19-14 advantage. Fisher picked up two more kills during the rally.
 
The Scarlet Knights closed within three points (20-17), but UE answered as a Scheu kill and service ace by Lexi Owen clinched the set.
 
Set 3 – Rutgers 25, UE 22
 
In a hard-fought frame from start to finish, it was Rutgers taking the 2-1 match lead. With the set tied at 3-3, Evansville scored four consecutive tallies to take a 7-3 lead. Makenzie Miller got it rolling with a kill. Wren Jones added a kill to solidify an 11-8 advantage. Three in a row by Rutgers tied the score while Ripple ended the stretch with a kill. The Scarlet Knights kept it rolling as they scored the next two to retake the lead. UE kept the Scarlet Knights within striking distance as they made it a 1-point game on multiple occasions before Rutgers took the set by three tallies.
 
Set 4 – Rutgers 25, UE 14
 
Scoring four of the first five points, Rutgers took control of game four. Another Ripple kill tied the score at 6-6, however, the Scarlet Knights scored the next three and would never look back. A 25-14 decision clinched the match.
 
MATCH 2 – Bellarmine 3, UE 0
 
As a team, Bellarmine hit .404 to defeat the Purple Aces in straight sets on Saturday evening. Lyla Fisher paced the team with 11 kills while McKenzie Laubach finished with five. Carsyn Kelley tallied 23 assists and Brooke Herdes finished with nine digs.
 
Set 1 – Bellarmine 25, UE 15
 
Bellarmine opened the match on a 3-1 run and continued to hold the advantage at 10-7. Two Fisher kills along with one by Ripple knotted the score at 10-10. Three in a row for the Knights set them up for a big run as they extended the advantage to eight points at 21-13 before taking the set by a 25-15 final.
 
Set 2 – Bellarmine 25, UE 15
 
A big start by the Knights saw them open a 9-2 advantage. Three consecutive Fisher kills cut the deficit to 10-6, however, Bellarmine answered to double up UE by a 14-7 score. Over the remainder of the set, Evansville got as close as five points before the Knights pulled away for the 25-15 victory.
 
Set 3 – Bellarmine 25, UE 17
 
With the set tied at 4-4, Bellarmine reeled off six points in a row to take control. UE fought back to cut the deficit from six points down to three at 11-8. McKenzie Laubach recorded a pair of kills to bring the Aces closer. The Knights would slowly add to the lead going back up by six at 18-12 before completed the match with the 25-17 win.