Box Score (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Down 24-19 in the fourth set, the University of Evansville volleyball team scored seven points in a row to defeat Bradley by a 3-1 final on Saturday evening at the Carson Center.
 
With Jelena Merseli doing the serving, Genesis Miranda notched three kills to tie it up at 24-24.  Following an ace that gave UE (7-11, 1-3 MVC) a 25-24 lead, a Bradley (5-11, 0-4 MVC) error clinched the victory for the Purple Aces.
 
"What a way to come back, it was all heart tonight.  The girls really deserve this.  I think this emotional win was good for our self-esteem and our team culture," UE head coach Manolo Concepcion said.  "We have been battling adversity because we are so young.  It was great to see such a young team coming back so many times this season.  Last year, this game was 40-38 and we came back as well.  It is good to finish the weekend this way and now we will get ready for the next battle on Monday against Wichita State."
 
Miranda led everyone with 25 kills in 45 attempts, hitting an unbelievable .489 on the night as the Aces finished the evening at .271.  Merseli posted 39 assists while Kim Deprez led the way with 23 digs.  Stephanie Cerino registered nine kills while Mersli checked in with a career-best of seven.  Erica Haslag led the Braves with 14 kills.
 
Bradley utilized a late run to take the opening set, 25-19.  The Braves opened up on a 5-2 stretch before the Aces came back to take a 7-5 lead in a 5-0 run highlighted by a Jelena Merseli kill.  Evansville continued to lead at 13-11 before Bradley rallied back, going on a 6-1 run to take a 17-14 lead.  A pair of Erica Haslag kills capped off the victory.
 
In the second frame, Evansville played steady throughout and was rewarded with a 26-24 triumph.  Genesis Miranda registered nine kills in the set including three of the first five UE tallies.  The Aces would go on to lead by as many as five at 15-10 on a BU error before the Braves roared back.  They tied it up at 20-20 and had set point at 24-23, but a service error put the ball back in UE's hands.  Consecutive kills by Miranda and Stephanie Cerino clinched the set and knotted the match at 1-1.
 
Merseli was at it again in the third game as a pair of kills along with a solo blocks got the Aces off to an 11-6 start.  Later, Kim Deprez notched a service ace to put UE up 20-8.  Those service aces were part of a 7-0 stretch by the Purple Aces.  Miranda capped off the frame with her fourth kill of the set.  Merseli matched her total in the third game as UE headed to the fourth up 2-1.
 
The Braves had the upper hand early in game four.  With the score knotted at 9-9, Bradley went on a 6-2 stretch to open up a 15-11 advantage.  After the Aces scored two in a row, Taylor Thiele of Bradley had back-to-back kills to put the Braves back up by five at 20-15.  Up 24-19, Bradley looked to be in control, but Evansville would have none of it, going on a 7-0 match-ending run to clinch their first MVC victory of the season.
 
Monday night will see UE back in action at the Carson Center for the third time in four nights as they play host to Wichita State.  Match time is at 7 p.m. and the first 100 fans receive an orange t-shirt.
 

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