A record crowd of 824 gathered for the home-opening game between the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana women’s volleyball rivalry match Friday in the Screaming Eagles Arena. UE came in with vengeance on their mind since USI had won one of two rounds against the Purple Aces Tuesday night. 

Before the game, Abby Weber, senior outside hitter, celebrated 1,000 career digs, but the celebration did not end there. Kicking off the first set was Bianca Anderson, junior middle hitter, who had the good vibes going with three big kills early in the game, placing USI up by a score of 9-5. The Purple Aces called their first time out after Jasmine Green, USI graduate right side, terminated the ball and made the crowd go electric. 

USI continued with a three-point scoring run, which forced UE to call another timeout. However, the crowd was awe-shocked after UE went on a six-point run, causing the score to be 18-16 with UE in the lead. USI’s momentum withered after this, and the first set ended with UE claiming a victory 25-23 to USI.

USI did not show any devastation due to the first set and based on their performance in the second set. Again, Anderson came to play early in the game with back-to-back kills, placing USI up 8-4. USI continued to lengthen their lead after scoring five consecutive points and resulting in a score of 20-9. 

UE player Guilia Cardona, senior right side, broke USI’s momentum with an ace (a ball that lands in the opponent’s court that cannot be kept in play). Cardona caused trouble for USI, leading her team with 26 kills and five aces throughout the night. However, UE’s efforts were insufficient in this set, as USI won 25-14.

The third set was close until the very end. USI struggled in this match with eight errors. A much-needed timeout was called by USI when they were down 18-13. A little energy was brought back to the court with a kill from Green, followed by two additional kills from Paris Downing, senior middle hitter, and Ashby Willis, sophomore outside hitter, placing USI down by three with a score of 19-16. The Screaming Eagles were within reach of a win, but the Purple Aces stayed on top with the final score of 25-21.

USI’s Green came to play in the fourth set with four kills, putting the team up 14-8. UE called a timeout in hopes of boosting morale, and Cardona gave them a glimmer of hope with two big kills. However, a missed serve on UE’s end led to a USI 11-point run and the win with the final score, 25-11, forcing a fifth set.

For all the marbles, UE was in the lead most of the set until a kill from Leah Coleman, sophomore outside hitter, tied the game at eight a piece. A kill from Downing placed the score at 11-9 and caused UE to take a timeout. This was followed by a kill from Willis which livened the crowd. 

USI never looked back and won the final set 15-9. The Screaming Eagles also claimed an overall 3-2 victory. It is safe to say USI owns a significant share of stock in the University of Evansville Volleyball Corporation, as they have beaten them twice this year, perhaps in revenge for the Mayor’s Cup.