Freshman Mildrelis Rodriguez had a match-high 12 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team fell by a 3-0 final at Southern Illinois on Saturday.
Rodriguez was the main focus of the offense for Evansville (8-20, 2-12 MVC) with Genesis Miranda out due to injury. Gabriela Roman was next with six kills while Rocio Fortuny finished the night with five. Lorena Marquez led UE with 16 assists while Kim Deprez racked up 17 digs.
A pair of Salukis (20-7, 11-3 MVC) had a team-best eight kills. Taylor Pippen and Abby Barrow paced the SIU offense with their total. Pippen hit an accurate .538 on the night in leading the Salukis to a final of .286.
In the first game, the Aces kept it close in the early going as a service ace by Roman got UE within two at 9-7. Up 12-9, SIU pulled away as a 12-3 run put them up 24-12 before they clinched the 25-16 win.
Evansville regrouped and played much better in the second game. Despite falling in a 6-2 hole, UE rallied back. Rodriguez posted two kills as the Aces got within one at 14-13. SIU punched back, scoring the next three before taking a 25-19 victory.
Southern Illinois took a 9-3 lead in the third and would pull away for a 25-13 win and a 3-0 sweep on the night.
Evansville completes its home schedule next weekend with a 7 p.m. match on Friday versus Indiana State before hosting Illinois State at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
