University of Evansville Athletics

OXFORD, Ohio – Day one of the Miami/Best Western Invitational saw the University of Evansville volleyball team put forth a pair of tough battles against Miami Ohio and Purdue Fort Wayne. The Purple Aces complete the event when they face Kansas City at 10 a.m. CST on Saturday morning.
 
MATCH 1 – Miami 3, UE 1
 
Makenzie Miller registered a career-high nine kills in Friday's opener with Miami Ohio taking a 3-1 win. Miller surpassed her previous high of eight kills while adding two block assists. Lyla Fisher matched Miller's tally with nine kills. Lexi Owen paced the team with 14 digs and Carsyn Kelley had 29 assists. Lauren Coyne posted 12 kills to lead the RedHawks.
 
Set 1 – Miami 25, UE 10
 
Miami scored the opening four points of the match before Evansville made its way back. Kills from Sabrina Ripple, Ryan Scheu, and Lyla Fisher cut the deficit to one point at 7-6. The RedHawks countered with a 4-0 run to go back up 11-6 and would pull away to take the set by a final score of 25-10.
 
Set 2 – UE 25, Miami 18
 
Another quick start saw MU score the first three points with Evansville answering to tie the score at 6-6. Two kills apiece from Wren Jones and Makenzie Miller saw the Aces score the next six points. Ripple stepped up with two kills in the next stretch that extended the lead to ten points – 19-9. The RedHawks staged a late rally, making it a 22-18 game, but UE was able to regroup to fend off the challenge. Fisher got Evansville back on track with a kill as the Aces knotted the match with a 25-18 win.
 
Set 3 – Miami 25, UE 6
 
For the third time in as many sets, the RedHawks got the early jump. After taking a 3-0 lead, they pushed the advantage to 8-1 and would cruise to the 25-6 victory to go up 2-1 in the match.
 
Set 4 – Miami 25, UE 18
 
Fisher recorded a kill to lift the Aces to a 3-0 advantage to open the frame. The RedHawks jumped in front at 8-5 on the strength of a 5-0 rally and would add to the advantage with an ace helping them take a 13-7 edge. McKenzie Laubach helped her squad get back within three when a kill and block assists cut the MU lead to 14-11.
 
Two kills by Scheu along with an ace by Laubach got UE even closer at 16-15. The RedHawks countered with two quick points and would slowly pull away to clinch the match.
 
MATCH 2 – PFW 3, UE 0
 
Trinity Rye of Purdue Fort Wayne tallied 19 kills to lead the Mastodons to a 3-0 win over the Purple Aces on Friday afternoon. Wren Jones led UE with nine kills while Kendall Agler had 13 digs and three assists. Carsyn Kelley led the way with 22 helpers.
 
Set 1 – PFW 26, UE 24
 
With the frame knotted at 6-6, Purdue Fort Wayne scored four in a row to go up 10-6 and their 4-point lead would continue to hold strong at 17-13. That is when UE made it run. Following a kill from Lyla Fisher, Ryan Scheu added one of her own to tie the score at 17-17. The Mastodons quickly countered posting the next four points, however, the Aces were not done.
 
Trailing 23-19, Evansville rallied. Lexi Owen's ace capped a 3-0 stretch while Wren Jones notched a kill that tied the score at 23-23. With the score tied at 24-24, PFW scored the final two points to take the set.
 
Set 2 – PFW 25, UE 20
 
Wren Jones' kill saw UE make it a 4-3 game in favor of the Mastodons. PFW reeled off the next five to go up by a score of 9-3. A nice defensive play by Kendall Agler led to a Fisher kill that made it a 10-6 game before Purdue Fort Wayne was able to match its largest advantage at 13-7.
 
Just as they had in the first set, the Purple Aces made their way back with Makenzie Miller picking up consecutive kills to get her team back within a point at 16-15. PFW would regain the advantage to go up 23-17 before winning by a final tally of 25-20.
 
Set 3 – PFW 25, UE 13
 
Looking to finish strong, the Mastodons scored the first three points and would extend the advantage to 9-3. They would finish off the match as they cruised to the 25-13 win.