Match Notes  -  Live Stats

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville volleyball team will play on a national stage on Tuesday as the Purple Aces travel to the University of Tennessee for a 7 p.m. ET match that will be televised live on the SEC Network Plus.
 
One of the most exciting atmospheres was on tap last season when the Purple Aces took on Tennessee at the Carson Center, this season the series moves south to Knoxville where the Aces take on the 8-0 Volunteers.
 
Following a 3-1 start to the season, the Aces dropped three tilts at the DePaul Invitational, falling to Eastern Illinois, DePaul and Toledo.  Evansville played well in the final two matches of the event, battling the Blue Demons to the finish, including a 33-31 defeat in a marathon third set.  In the finale against the Rockets, UE won the first two sets, but Toledo rallied back, clinching the match by winning the final three.
 
Continuing her success on both sides of the floor has been sophomore Genesis Miranda.  In four matches last weekend, she averaged 4.65 kills per set, adding a total of 79 to her season tally.  She has registered at least 12 kills in all seven matches and capped off the weekend in Chicago with a career-best 28 kills.  It was one of the most accurate efforts of her career as she hit .328 versus the Rockets.  Miranda was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
 
Miranda continues to be one of the top players in the Valley.  Her 5.43 points per set leads the league while her 4.52 kills per frame puts her second.  With 29 service aces thus far, ranks in the top five in the conference.
 
Pacing the freshmen has been Mildrelis Rodriguez.  She has notched nine or more kills in four of UE's first seven matches.  Rodriguez is coming off of the top offensive performance of her young career, registering a career-best 18 kills versus Toledo where she also hit .300.  On the defensive end, Rodriguez ranks second on the team with 85 digs.
 
Evansville also has the top freshman blocker in the MVC.  Rocio Fortuny ranks seventh in the league with 1.07 blocks per set.  Her 28 block assists and 31 total blocks leads the UE squad.
 
Elizabeth Giller continues to be the most accurate hitter for the Purple Aces.  Checking in at .310, Giller has recorded 38 kills in the opening seven matches.
 
Stephanie Cerino is off to the best start of her 4-years at UE.  After earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the season-opening Holiday Inn Classic, Cerino has kept it rolling as she ranks second on the team with 74 kills, an average of 2.55 per set.  Her previous career mark was 1.53 per set in 2012. 
 
After going 8-24 a season ago, Tennessee has already matched their season win total in just two weekends and stand at a perfect 8-0.  Over the weekend, they went 4-0 in the DISH Tennessee Volleyball Classic, defeating Tennessee Tech, UNC Greensboro, North Florida and Eastern Kentucky.  Defensively, the Volunteers have been one of the best in the SEC, ranking second in opponent hitting (.111) and digs per set (16.39).  Leading that defense has been Bridgette Villano, whose 4.56 digs ranks third in the league.  Kanisha Jimenez leads the offense as her 3.29 kills is tops amongst the Volunteers.
 

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