Box Score (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In the most accurate offensive performance of the season, the Purple Aces volleyball team hit .333 on its way to a sweep over Jackson State in Friday's home opener and first game of the Dunn Hospitality Tournament
 
"Overall, we are satisfied with the win," head coach Manolo Concepcion said.  "The girls played an efficient hitting game.  We were able to handle the game and our blocking should improve through the tournament.  I was very impressed with our middles.  I am looking forward to a great tournament."
 
Genesis Miranda led the way with 12 kills, tops amongst all players.  Mildrelis Rodriguez finished the night with nine kills while Stephanie Cerino notched eight.  Both were extremely accurate as Rodriguez hit .750 and Cerino finished at .381.  Lorena Marquez had a solid 32 assists and eight digs while Kim Deprez had a team-best 11 digs.  Taija Thomas and Mikayla Rolle each registered eight kills to lead the Tigers (0-9).
 
Hitting .379 in the first set, Evansville's (4-5) defense held the Tigers to .079 on their way to a 25-14 win.  Mildrelis Rodriguez had a stellar game, recording five kills in five attached.  With the game tied at 7-7, the Aces made their run as Stephanie Cerino registered a kill as part of an 8-2 run.  Over the remainder of the set, the Aces outscored Jackson State, 18-7 to grab the win.
 
Genesis Miranda was the star in the second set as she notched five kills in leading UE to a 25-20 win.  The Aces hitting improved even more in the second set as the Aces finished at .419.  UUE got off to a quick 7-4 start behind two Miranda kills.  The lead reached as many as eight at 19-11 before the Tigers rallied back.  A bad set by UE saw JSU get within four at 24-20, but a bad set  one other end gave UE the 25-20 win on the ensuing point.
 
Another quick start saw Evansville jump out to a 5-1 edge in game three before going up 9-3 in a rally capped off by a Miranda service ace.  Evansville's lead got as high as eight points after a JSU error put the Aces up 19-11.  Jackson State showed great fight down the stretch as a 7-1 run got them within a pair at 20-18.  Rolle had a kill in that stretch. 
 
With the chance to clinch the match being in jeopardy, Rodriguez notched a kill to set UE back on track.  Miranda and Cerino also had late kills as the Aces clinched the match with a 25-19 triumph.
 
On Saturday, the Aces open up the day against Western Illinois at 10 a.m. before completed the tournament versus Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m.
 

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