Kennesaw State Box Score  -  UL Monroe Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Mildrelis Rodriguez and Rachel Tam paced the offense as the University of Evansville volleyball team split a pair of matches in the opening day of the Gamecock Classic.  The Purple Aces dropped a 3-0 decision to Kennesaw State on Friday morning before coming back for a 3-2 win over UL Monroe.
 
Rodriguez and Tam notched 18 kills apiece in the second match of the day.  Rodriguez hit .333 while leading the team with 16 digs.  Tam was equally as impressive.  The freshman hit .278 while totaling 15 digs.  Rocio Fortuny notched 11 kills on the night while Jelena Merseli set her career mark with 48 assists.

"This was a great way to come back from a rough tournament start.  Our girls continue to show resilience and stay motivated throughout adversity," head coach Manolo Concepcion said.  "They are all buing into our long term vision and that has been instrumental in crucial moments by keeping their patience and composure.  I am proud of their improvement.  It is tome to go back, watch film and see how we can get better for our matches tomorrow."
 
After ULM took the opening set, 25-20, the Purple Aces roared back with a dominating 25-17 win in the second.  With the score tied up at 4-4, the Aces scored five in a row and did not look back.  Rodriguez and Tam each had two kills in the run while Rodriguez also notched a service ace.  UE's run as the lead reached as many as nine at 17-8.  Just as she did all game, Rodriguez had the deciding kill as her final one of the set gave the Aces a 25-17 win.
 
The Warhawks bounced back to take a 2-1 lead as they earned a 25-21 win in the third game.  Evansville was not phased as they opened up the fourth set on a 4-1 run.  UL Monroe came back and tied the game up at 15-15.  That is where UE took the lead for good.  Another Tam sent the Aces on a set-ending 10-4 run to force the deciding set.
 
Another quick start saw the Purple Aces scoot out to a 5-1 lead.  Cathy Schreiber served as UE took the early lead.  Evansville's edge reached five at 12-7, but ULM had one last run in it.  A 6-1 run saw them tie the game up at 13-13.  The next three points were tied up before Tam's 18^th kill of the match gave the Aces a 17-16 lead before a ULM error capped off the 18-16 win.
 
In the opening match of the day, the Aces fell by a 3-0 final to Kennesaw State.  The Owls performed well for the duration of the match, taking a 25-15 win in the opening set before going up 2-0 thanks to a 25-14 win.  In the third frame, KSU clinched the match with a 25-17 win.
 
Mildrelis Rodriguez notched seven kills for UE while Rachel Tam finished with six.  Olivia Goldstein set her career mark with 20 digs in the match.
 
Tomorrow, the Aces have two more matches, taking on host Jacksonville State at 11:30 a.m. before taking on Nicholls State at 4:30 p.m.
 

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