EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Illinois State volleyball fell in three sets to the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday night inside the Meeks Family Fieldhouse. With the loss, the Redbirds fall to 7-11 on the year and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Purple Aces improve to 12-4 on the season and 2-3 in league play after winning both of their matches this weekend.
Evansville got out to a strong start in set one, quickly taking a 3-0 lead and never allowing the 'Birds to capitalize on any momentum. A 3-0 run that featured three-straight kills, including two from freshman Aliyah Moore, allowed Illinois State to come within one, but a series of errors would stretch the Purple Aces' lead to give them the 25-20 victory in set one.
The start of set two nearly mimicked set one, but with Illinois State jumping out to a 4-0 start this time. A kill and a service ace by junior Sarah Kushner gave the 'Birds the early lead but service errors and attacking errors would plague ISU in set two, falling 25-22 to UE.
The final set was a battle between the two squads up until the 9-9 tie when Evansville took over with a 5-0 run to take the lead that they would never relinquish. The Purple Aces won 25-20 in the final set to win the match.
STAT LEADERS
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH LEAH JOHNSON
On tonight's match against the Purple Aces:
"I think the difference tonight was Evansville's ability to win the small points. The momentum they got from winning those small points is what made the biggest difference in the match and what made them better than us tonight."
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will return home to host Loyola-Chicago for their annual Pack the Arena match on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Admission is free for Illinois State's match against the Ramblers.
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