Box Score (PDF)

DES MOINES, Iowa – Mildrelis Rodriguez hit .308 while totaling 21 kills but Drake was able to overcome a 1-0 deficit to earn a 3-1 win over the University of Evansville volleyball team on Saturday night at the Knapp Center.
 
Rodriguez notched her 21 kills in 52 attempts while posting 12 digs.  Rocio Fortuny had 17 kills for UE (4-20, 0-11 MVC) while Rachel Tam had nine kills and a team-best 13 digs.  Drake (13-11, 4-6 MVC) was led by a 19-kill effort courtesy of Odessa Cody.
 
A quick start saw the Purple Aces score the first two points of the opening set before extending that advantage to 10-6.  Erlicia Griffith registered three early kills and finished with five in the set.  Drake rallied back to take a 17-16 lead, but the Aces countered.  UE took advantage of three Bulldog errors to go up 22-19 and fought off a late charge to win, 25-23.
 
Game two was a back-and-forth battle that did not see either team lead by more than three points.  A Mildrelis Rodriguez kill gave the Aces a 16-13 advantage, but just as it went during the set, Drake came back to take a 20-19 lead.  From there, they were able to hang on to take a 25-23 decision to tie the match.
 
Utilizing the momentum they got from the second frame, Drake scooted out to an 11-3 lead in the third game before taking a 25-18 win.  The Aces did not give up, cutting the deficit to just three at 14-11, but the Bulldogs had the answer.  A 10-2 advantage to start game four sealed the match for the Bulldogs, who finished the night with a 25-16 victory.
 
UE will be back at the Carson Center next weekend, welcoming Bradley on Friday before playing host to Loyola on Saturday.  Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.
 

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