WARRIORS FALL IN FIVE-SET MATCH TO UNOH

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - A two-game swing by the Warriors (7-17, 0-11) fell just short against the Northwestern Ohio Racers (15-14, 6-5) on Friday night at Garth Pleasant Arena. After falling flat in the first two games of the match, the Warriors found a spark for games three and four behind some phenomenal offensive play. Outside hitters Hailee Mancogna and Kourtney Mack led the attack for the Warriors, who combined for 25 kills. Three Warriors - Ashley Horne, Karli Rohraff, and Emma Hock - posted at least 18 digs. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST GAME - 22-25 UNOH

• Both teams showed their offensive prowess to get things started, with UNOH's Gianna San Filippo and the Warriors' Emily Carroll and Chante Hudgins trading kills. The Racers built some separation with a 4-0 run, but RCU crept back into it thanks to kills by Mack and Hock. As UNOH got closer to 25 points, the Warriors continued to fight their way into it behind powerful kills from Mancogna and Hudgins, but two kills from the Racers' Hannah Colquitt put the first game out of reach 

SECOND GAME - 18-25 UNOH

• The Warriors would answer a quick start from the Racers to begin the second game, thanks to a kill from Madelyn Geisenhaver and an Ashley Horne service ace. An intense stretch developed midway through the game, with the Warriors going on a 4-1 run all off kills. Following that stretch, the Racers embarked on a 12-4 run to ice the second game

THIRD GAME - 25-18 RCU

• RCU capitalized on multiple errors by the Racers to open the third, including a solo block by Geisenhaver. The Racers pushed out to gain a lead behind kills from outside hitter Abigail Martin, but the Warriors snatched the lead back with five consecutive points, thanks largely to Hudgins and Geisenhaver. The run continued from there, with Mancogna adding two straight service aces before kills from Carroll and Geisenhaver got the Warriors back into the match with a third-game victory

FOURTH GAME - 25-20 RCU

• An emphatic block from Hudgins helped the Warriors start the fourth game on a 7-2 run to keep things rolling. After a brief run by the Racers, the Warriors broke the fourth game open with a big 5-0 run that included a block from Mack and Audrey Soares. RCU continued to bring on kills, including a dump kill from Mackenzie Keefer, changing up the pace from her 25 assists. RCU's defense won them the fourth game, forcing multiple Racer attack errors to bring on a fifth set

FIFTH GAME - 11-15 UNOH

• The Racers went on a pivotal 7-2 run to begin the fifth game, putting RCU in a challenging spot. However, the Warriors got a clutch performance from Mancogna, who produced two consecutive kills and an ace to help RCU tighten the lead. Following the switch-point, Mack slammed two important kills to try and get RCU to force a win-by-two situation, but the Racers closed things out and ended the match

STAT OF THE GAME

Horne, Rohraff, and Hock all achieved career-highs in single-game digs. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors return home on Saturday, Oct. 19, to face #RV Indiana Tech at 2 p.m. in Garth Pleasant Arena. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Shelley Carroll - RCU Volleyball