VOLLEYBALL EARNS FIRST CONFERENCE WIN; HORNE RECORDS EIGHT ACES

DEARBORN, MI – The Warriors (4-21, 1-13) startled the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines (10-14, 6-9) with a sensational bounce back on Friday night, dropping the first two sets and storming back to win it. The win marks the first in the conference for the Warriors and head coach Juliana Gutknecht's first conference win as a head coach.

Freshman Ashley Horne had an impressive game, recording a career-high eight service aces during the contest, giving the Warriors' bench plenty of reason to celebrate during the contest.

Rochester was able to control play at the net throughout the game. Sophomore Madelyn Geisenhaver led the stat sheet with five blocks – a career-high for her. Junior Gabby Costello was the defensive anchor on the back end, tabbing 25 digs.

Senior Olivia Francis led the attack with 11 kills, but seniors Olivia Pannecouk and Darcy Bennin were untamed forces at the net, equaling each other with eight kills and four blocks. Freshman Kourtney Mack also provided timely kills when her number was called.

The Warriors were mainly shunned to start by the Wolverines but got a couple of kills and a block. Down 11-3, the Warriors were forced to call a timeout. Out of the break, Rochester gave a free ball to the Wolverines, but a great play by Bennin ultimately forced a Wolverine error.

Sophomore Mackenzie Keefer made a great save to keep a volley going, and that set up sophomore Hailee Mancogna for a kill to pull the Warriors within five, 13-8. Then sophomore Charlotte Warner had to show off her defensive acumen with a couple of tremendous digs that led to a Wolverine attacking error.

The Warriors started gaining momentum with Geisenhaver serving before a point for the Wolverines. Pannecouk would strike a kill after some scrappy play from the Warriors, but it was still only worth one point, and the Warriors lost the first set 25-17.

A Wolverine attacking error early in the second gave the Warriors the lead for the first time in the match, 3-2. The Warriors would quickly lose the lead, but a Francis kill reclaimed control, 10-9. The Warriors would have the lead as late as 13-12, but the Wolverines would control things from there, and the Warriors fell 25-17 again.

When everyone was beginning to think about their weekend plans, the Warriors switched sides of the net undaunted. They would shock the Wolverines with an 11-2 run to start the third, largely due to Horne, who hit four aces for the Warriors in the stretch. The Wolverines cut the lead down some, aided by a couple of 4-0 runs, but the Warriors never gave up the lead.

Geisenhaver teamed up with Bennin at the net for a block to get the 24th point, and that put a ribbon on the set. The Wolverines would spike the ball into the net the next volley, and the Warriors avoided the sweep with a 25-18 set victory.

The fourth began with Bennin and the Warriors continuing to cause all sorts of problems for the Wolverines at the net. Mack slammed a kill to reclaim the lead at 9-8. The set would be neck and neck, and after a tremendous save by Geisenhaver, Pannecouk supplied the kill to give the Warriors a 19-18 lead.

All was squared up at 20 when Pannecouk and Geisenhaver teamed up for a clutch block to take the lead. Then Bennin and Geisenhaver blocked the Wolverines again for a 23-21 lead, provoking a Wolverine timeout. Warner would then do her part, sending the Wolverines into a panic, unable to return her dump kill, and forcing another Wolverine timeout. Warner went right back to that same play for the next point, forcing a fifth set in a 25-22 game victory.

The fifth started with a Pannecouk and Geisenhaver block, much to the dismay of the Wolverines, who were hoping things like that would stop in the set. Francis would chalk a kill for the second point when the Wolverines quickly tied it up at two.

It was at this moment the Warriors took the soul of the Wolverines; a 9-0 run, catapulted by four aces from Horne – who looked like anything but a freshman in crunch time – and the Warriors were in the driver's seat. The Wolverines had some opportunities to climb back, but it was the Warriors' night this time around.

The Wolverines did reach nine points, and the Warrior faithful held their breath. However, Costello, Keefer, and Mack connected for a textbook play to seal the win for good.

UP NEXT

A quick turnaround for the Warriors features a trip to play the Lourdes University Gray Wolves (2-18, 2-13) in Ohio on Saturday night.

James Fisher - RU Athletics