VOLLEYBALL WINS THRILLER AGAINST OCU; GOES 1-1 IN TRI

CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Warrior volleyball (3-10) split tri-match play with the Ohio Christian Trailblazers (5-6) and the Cumberlands Patriots (10-6) on Saturday afternoon, which featured a thrilling first game where the Warriors outlasted the hosting Trailblazers.

WARRIORS VS. OHIO CHRISTIAN

The first game of the day provided plenty of excitement and saw several players flirt with and break season-high totals on both sides of the net with the match stretched to five sets.

Mackenzie Keefer checked in with 31 assists, setting up senior Olivia Francis who recorded 18 kills. Sophomore Madelyn Geisenhaver scored 13 kills, and freshman Kourtney Mack killed 11 times. After 25 digs last match, Gabby Costello outdid herself with 27 digs against the Trailblazers. All the aforementioned stats were season-highs for the Warriors.

The Warriors were pulling away in the first set when the Trailblazers went on a 4-0 run, provoking a timeout from Coach Gutknecht. The Warriors held onto the lead to take the set 25-23.

The second set featured a promising start for the Warriors, who took a 12-7 lead. The Trailblazers then blazed a 7-0 run, taking the lead and never looking back on their way to a 25-20 set win.

The Trailblazers would not let go of the momentum in the third set, going up 15-8. After a serve hit the net, the Warriors took the serve and set up Olivia Francis for a much-needed kill. The Warriors then gathered a few 3-0 runs and forced overtime. Although exciting, the comeback wasn't completed as the Trailblazers aced a serve, winning the set 31-29.

The Warriors took command of the fourth set with great swings from Francis and Geisenhaver. Going up by as much as seven, the Warriors forced a fifth set with a 25-19 win.

The fifth set was tightly contested, and the teams exchanged points up until a Rochester 8-7 lead when the Trailblazers went on a huge 5-0 run with big plays. Gutknecht took her timeout to regather the troops.

The Warriors rallied and worked it to another overtime with a big-time spike from Mack to tie it at 14, forcing the Trailblazers to take a timeout. Following the timeout, Mack scored a tip to give the Warriors the lead. After a thrilling volley that featured great plays on both sides, senior Darcy Bennin finished the Blazers with a big play at the net. The Warriors took the set and match with a 16-14 score.

WARRIORS VS. CUMBERLANDS (KY) 

The Warriors may have been hungover from the first game when they played the Cumberlands Patriots next who jumped out to an 8-0 lead with good swings and attack errors by the Warriors. After a timeout in an 11-3 deficit, the Warriors went on a 3-0 run. However, the Warriors were never able to recover, although they did not lose much more ground after falling into the hole in a 25-14 set loss.

The Warriors took the first point of the second set but the Patriots then went on another big run taking the lead 11-3 again. Rochester improved from its previous set score but was downed 25-16.

The third set saw the Warriors play better, with the set opening 7-11. The Warriors pulled to within 3 when Geisenhaver and Bennin teamed up for a block at the net. The Patriots proved to be too much, however, and controlled the set on their way to taking the match with a 25-16 set win.

UP NEXT

After already matching their previous season win total, the Warriors will remain focused as they jump back into conference play on Wednesday against the Aquinas College Saints (4-2) in Grand Rapids.

James Fisher - RU Athletic Communications Intern

Featured Image Courtesy of Ohio Christian Athletics