Box Score (PDF)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A great performance by the University of Evansville volleyball team saw them jump out to a 2-1 lead over UNI before falling in five sets on Saturday evening.
 
Senior Kim Deprez set a new school record with 40 digs on the night.  That eclipsed the previous record of 38, which Julie Sylvester accomplished versus Southern Illinois in 2009.  Her final tally was also 8^th-most in a match in Missouri Valley Conference history.
 
"This was a fantastic match and game environment. For the first time since 1997, Evansville takes UNI to 5 sets, and the fact that we were ahead 2-1, gives us the confidence to know that we can battle against anyone in the conference," head coach Manolo Concepcion said.  "Understanding that we are playing so young, we made mistakes in key moments of the game, especially on the easy actions. However, the girls battled all throughout the match, and were in command most of the way, being led by Genesis Miranda, who demonstrated why she is the best or one of the best players in the MVC."
 
"It was a good team effort, now it is about continuing to focus on the process and to get the result that we are looking for."
 
Genesis Miranda had a stellar outing, notching 22 kills while hitting .206 in the match for UE (6-10, 0-2 MVC).  Mildrelis Rodriguez finished the night with 13 kills and Stephanie Cerino registered 8.  Lorena Marquez led the Aces with 33 assists. 
 
Four Panthers (8-7, 2-0 MVC) tallied 10 or more kills, led by Kayla Haneline, who had 21.  Bri Weber and Piper Thomas recorded 16 apiece.  Heather Hook notched 57 assists.
 
A slow start to the night saw the Aces fall by a 25-10 score in the first set.  Put into a tough situation, Evansville regrouped and came out more focused in the second game.  Nine ties led to an 11-11 score.  That is where UE made its move.  A Miranda kill helped the Aces score the next three points to go up 14-11.  UNI fought back to eventually tie it at 17-17 before going up 19-18. 
 
Facing a 23-22 deficit, Mildrelis Rodriguez notched a kill before Gabriela Roman registered a service ace to put UE on top 24-23.  The Panthers took a time out, but committed an error on the ensuing play to give UE the 25-23 win.
 
Following the win, UE put together another great game, jumping out to a 9-5 lead as Miranda posted four kills in the opening sequence.  The Panthers fought back and would tie the set up at 16-16 before Elizabeth Giller put the Aces back on top with a kill.  After one more tie at 17-17, Evansville was able to wrestle the lead away and hang on for another 25-23 win with a Rodriguez kill being the clinching point.
 
Needing just one more set to clinch, UE scooted out to a 3-1 lead in game four with Olivia Goldstein notching an ace in the run.  Northern Iowa came back to tie it up at 7-7 before taking their first lead at 12-11.  With the score knotted at 13-13, UNI scored the next three and went on to tie the match up with a 25-22 triumph.
 
In the fifth set, the Panthers put it all together, clinching the evening with a 15-9 victory. 
 
On Friday, Evansville returns home for a match against Loyola.  The Aces and Ramblers tangle at 6 p.m.  On Saturday, Bradley comes to town for a 6 p.m. match.
 

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