EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville volleyball coach Manolo Concepcion announced the addition of three players to his roster for next season.  Two freshmen along with a transfer will join the squad.
 
Freshmen Midrelis Rodriguez and Lizzie Giller along with transfer Gabriela Roman.
 
Rodriguez comes to UE after playing on the U-20 Puerto Rico Volleyball Naitonal Team.  In high school, she posted four consecutive LAEC Championships and was the MVP of the league in 2014.  She was a candidate for the 2014 High School Player of the Year award in Puerto Rico and played in the all-star game.
 
She also brings experience with current UE player Genesis Miranda as the duo played together on the Junior National Team in very competitive situations.
 
"We are very excited to have signed Mildrelis, an experienced all-around student-athlete who has the ability to impact the game in multiple areas," Concepcion said.  "She is an extremely athletic outside hitter with the passing range of a Libero. For the second year in a row, we have been able to recruit the #1 senior outside in Puerto Rico. Her outstanding club's background has helped her develop pure fundamentals that will be significant to our ball control immediately."
 
Lizzie Giller is a 6-1 middle hitter from Indianapolis. She started all four years for Beech Grove High School and for the last three years she has led her team in kills and blocks.  She was named to the all Indiana Crossroads Conference team in 2013 and again in 2014.
 
Additionally she earned team MVP honors and in 2014 named to the Cowan Blackhawk Invitational All-Tournament team.  Giller played club volleyball for Team Indiana and plans on majoring in Visual Communication.
 
"Lizzie provides depth that we need in the Middle position. She is a speedy, aggressive player with a high ceiling," Concepcion said. "Her raw talent, along with her explosiveness to get out of the ground, are our favorite traits about her. We wanted to find someone in that position that would be able to add quickness, and her athleticism will be developed into that, long term."
 
Also joining the team as a senior is Gabriela Roman, who comes to UE from Jacksonville University in Florida.  Roman led Jacksonville to win the 2013 A-Sun Conference Championship (first since 2004) with a 30-4 record (best in program's history).  In 2013, she also led the team to their first NCAA appearance.  Roman was named the 2012 A-Sun Sand Volleyball Freshman of the Year while making the All-Freshman team in both sand and indoor volleyball.
 
As a member of the Puerto Rico Volleyball National Team, she traveled to Czech Republic in 2013 to compete in the Indoor Volleyball World U -21 Championship. She also represented Puerto Rico in 2014 at the Beach Volleyball World U -23 Championship taking place in Poland as well as the Beach Volleyball World U-21 Championship at Cyprus.
 
"Gaby brings winning tradition to our program. She has already been a program-changer at this level. Knows what it takes to achieve the ultimate goal, and look forward to see her inject that process-oriented mentality into our locker room," Concepcion added.  "Her energy and dynamism are characteristics that are contagious. That, combined with her international experience indoor and outdoor, makes her an immediate impact in our future aspirations."