WARRIORS WIN TWO STRAIGHT DURING TRI-MATCH AGAINST OHIO CHRISTIAN, TRINITY CHRISTIAN

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - The Warriors (4-6) got the gym rocking on Saturday morning with two wins over visitors Ohio Christian (7-8) and Trinity Christian (1-11) in Garth Pleasant Arena. In both games, the Warriors got impressive individual performances from players, finding plenty of success both receiving and attacking. 

THE RUNDOWN

RCU VS. TRINITY CHRISTIAN (IL) - 3-0 FINAL

• The first set of this matchup was all about the teams trading points to get things going. Outside hitter Hailee Mancogna got the Warriors off and running with two kills, followed by middle blocker Chante Hudgins with an emphatic one. The Warriors got a three-point lead thanks to a block from front-liners Madelyn Geisenhaver and Audrey Soares. The Trolls marched back into the set with consecutive blocks to return the favor. Fortunately for the Warriors, that run would be short-lived thanks to Geisenhaver and sophomore Kourtney Mack, who produced timely kills. Senior Emily Carroll shut the set down with two kills in the final few points to get the Warriors up 1-0
• Carroll and Hock picked up right where they left off with kills set up by sophomore Emma Hock. Hock and fellow setter Mackenzie Keefer were an impressive one-two punch for the Warriors, with both being present on the Warriors' attacking and defense with several digs. Four Warriors - Hock, Geisenhaver, Ashley Horne, and Karli Rohraff - were essential to the Warrior defense, producing double-digit digs. With the game tied 17-17, the Warriors caught fire at the net, with Mancogna, Hudgins, and Geisenhaver getting kills to go for the Warriors to end the game on an 8-3 run
• The Trolls came out with energy in the third game, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. RCU made sure to fire right back behind Mancogna and Mack, who continued their strong attacking performances. Trinity Christian continued to pace the Warriors throughout the game, keeping a three-point lead until the Warriors found their groove offensively. From the Warriors' eighth point of the set to the 16th, six different Warriors earned a kill - including Keefer, who placed a perfect dump-kill into the right corner at the net to cap off an impressive run. The Warriors stormed to victory, winning the game 25-20 and the match

RCU VS. OHIO CHRISTIAN - 3-1 FINAL

• RCU was impressive throughout the first game, starting off with a kill by Carroll. Hudgins and Mack, who made their presence known throughout this game, added to the Warriors' early run with booming kills to get the bench jumping. Keefer kept the Warriors going with several well-placed sets to get the Warriors up five, connecting with Horne off multiple phenomenal passes. A run from the Trail Blazers made things interesting, but RCU closed out with two kills set up by Hock
• The second set was the Warriors' lone misstep on the day, with Ohio Christian jumping out to a lead midway through the game after the Warriors led by as much as six. Freshman Alyssa Swanson earned the first kills of her collegiate career during the game en route to five total. With things tied up 16-16, the Trail Blazers embarked on a 5-0 run to pull ahead and snatch the game from RCU
• RCU made sure to counter with an outstanding third game, dominating from start to finish offensively. Hudgins added to her 14 total kills with a well-placed ball to the opening in the Trail Blazers' defense. With the game at 17-13 thanks to a kill from Mancogna, the Warriors used that spark to ignite a game-breaking 8-1 run with Swanson, Hudgins, and Mack getting phenomenal swings to leave no doubt
• Mancogna kept the Warriors' momentum running in the fourth with early kills set up by Keefer. Rochester Christian continued to build momentum with a few more kills midway through the game, including a kill by Hock. After Ohio Christian came back to tie the game, the Warriors got the push needed behind a block from Soares and Carroll. Mancogna added three more kills in the Warriors' final nine points, and RCU wrapped things up with an undefeated day at home

STAT OF THE WEEKEND

Hock was a presence on both sides of the ball in this tri, averaging 20 assists and 13.5 digs per contest.

UP NEXT

The Warriors resume conference play on Sept. 13 against Lourdes in Sylvania, Ohio, at 7 p.m. The next day, they will compete against newly inducted WHAC member Defiance (OH) on the road at 2 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Shelley Carroll - RCU Volleyball