The Valpo volleyball team dominated sets one and three in its MVC opener Friday evening, but host Evansville claimed the three tightest sets, as the Purple Aces dealt the Beacons a 3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 16-25, 26-24, 15-11) defeat.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo hit at a .500 clip — its best single-set mark of the season — in the opening frame. The Beacons used a 10-1 mid-set run to take the lead for good to claim the first set.
• The second set featured 11 tie scores, the latest of which came at 20-20. The Purple Aces scored the next three points, and while the Beacons closed back to within one point twice, Evansville evened up the match at one set apiece.
• Much like the first set, the third set featured a strong performance by Valpo on the attack, as it finished with 17 kills on .400 hitting. An 8-2 run turned a 6-6 tie into a 14-8 lead and the Beacons' lead never fell under five points as they took a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Evansville looked in control of set four with a 17-12 edge, but Valpo scored seven straight on the serve of senior Elise Swistek (LaPorte, Ind./New Prairie) to take a 19-17 lead.
• The Purple Aces responded with a 5-1 spurt to go up 22-20, but the Beacons reeled off three points in a row, the last of which was an ace from junior Addy Kois (Osceola, Ind./Penn), to go up 23-22.
• Evansville scored consecutive points to earn set point at 24-23, and while Valpo held off one set point chance, the Aces converted on their second to force a decisive fifth frame.
• Valpo was in control at the halfway point of the fifth set, leading 8-5 at the media timeout. The Beacons extended their lead to 11-6 before Evansville reeled off nine points in a row to close out the match.

 
Inside the Match

• Friday's match was Valpo's fifth five-setter in 13 total outings this year. The Beacons won their first two matches which went the distance, but have dropped their last three.
• The Beacons lost on Friday despite a big advantage in the box score. Valpo tallied more kills than Evansville and committed just 19 attack errors to the Purple Aces' 32, out-hitting UE .257-.165.
• Freshman Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) posted a season-best 16 kills to pace Valpo while hitting at a .333 clip. Gove also picked up 10 digs and tied her season high with three blocks.
• Fellow rookie Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) joined Gove in double figures with 12 kills and matched her season best as well with four blocks.
• Junior Sam Warren (Kentland, Ind./South Newton) hit .400 with eight kills and a season-best six digs as well.
• Freshman Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) was in on eight of Valpo's 12 team blocks, the second-best effort of her season.
• The Beacons reached double figures in the blocks category for the fifth time this year.
• Both of Valpo's setters recorded double-doubles on Friday — sophomore Mara Thomas (Bogart, Ga./Athens Academy) notched 24 assists and 17 digs, while Kois picked up 21 assists and 11 digs.

 
Next Up
Valpo (8-5, 0-1 MVC) closes out its first weekend of Valley action Saturday evening at Indiana State. The match, which will be contested at the Hulman Center, is set for a 5 p.m. CT first serve.