Two UE volleyball alums ink professional deals

Mildrelis Rodriguez and Joselyn Coronel to continue careers

 On January 4, 2020, a pair of former University of Evansville volleyball players advanced their careers as Joselyn Coronel and Mildrelis Rodriguez were selected to play in the Puerto Rico Volleyball Professional League.

Coronel was selected with the 8^th pick in the first round by the Corozal Pinkin while Rodriguez was selected as the 13^th pick of the second round by the Mayagüez Indians.

“I am very proud of what both of them have accomplished after graduating from UE.  I knew they could do big thinks on and off the court,” UE head volleyball coach Fernando Morales said.  “I followed them when they were playing the semi-pro league during the fall when they took their team to the finals.  That was the perfect set up for both of them being selected in the draft.  We will follow their career and be cheering on them from here.  Hopefully we can see them in the national team program soon.”

Following her graduation from Evansville, Coronel arrived in Puerto Rico and began playing in the Puerto Rican Volleyball Confederation (COPUVO) with Humacao.  She played and trained on a regular basis.  Coronel will be teaming up with another former Aces player – Gabriela Roman.  Roman graduated from UE in 2016 and is in her fourth season as a pro in Puerto Rico.

“It feels like a goal accomplished; I am very happy to have achieved another of my dreams,” Coronel exclaimed.  “I hope to gain a lot of experience from my teammates, my coach, Angel Perez, and progress day by day as it is a new team.”

Rodriguez also started her career with COPUVO.  As a rookie, she led her team to a runner-up finish.  Aside from her work on the court, she served as a coach in July of 2019 with the Coamo High School Volleyball Academy in Coamo.

“Being officially in the league is a dream come true,” Rodriguez explained.  “I am about to live the dream that I had for a long time, like every girl who grows up in Puerto Rico in the world of volleyball, because we all yearn to get there one day and it is being given to me. I feel proud of myself for having come here and grateful to all those people who helped me get here.”

Practice for both began in the second week of January with the first matches taking place on February 12.