COMEBACK BID AGAINST LOURDES FALLS SHORT FOR WARRIORS

SYLVANIA, Ohio - It was a game of inches for the Warriors (4-7, 0-2) and the Lourdes Gray Wolves (4-7, 1-2) on Friday night. After a comeback effort by the Warriors, the Gray Wolves took a 3-2 win over RCU. After two tightly contested games that went the way of the hosting Gray Wolves, RCU climbed back into the game thanks to a reenergized attacking effort. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST GAME - 24-26 LOURDES

• Neither team built a lead greater than five in this game, with each team going back and forth on runs. RCU saw effective play from middles Alivia Everitt and Chante Hudgins throughout the game, making both offensive and defensively impact plays. The Gray Wolves came back from five down late in the game to force a win-by-two situation, with the hosts prevailing 26-24

SECOND GAME - 24-26 LOURDES

• The comeback script was flipped in this one, with RCU being the team trailing for most of the game. After going down five, Hudgins and outside hitter Mackenzie Kemenah contributed to a big run to help RCU climb back into the game and give the Gray Wolves a serious challenge. RCU knotted things up at 24-24, but two big plays from Lourdes gave the Gray Wolves a 2-0 match lead

THIRD GAME - 25-22 RCU

• After a 5-0 start by the Gray Wolves, the Warriors got themselves back into it thanks to two kills from senior Emily Carroll. At the 9-9 mark, setter Mackenzie Keefer logged four service aces in five points - the non-ace point being a set to Hudgins for a kill. With RCU rolling, the Warriors got to a 15-9 lead. Lourdes stormed back, but RCU forced errors where needed to take the game 25-22

FOURTH GAME - 25-23 RCU 

• The Warriors started out strong behind more kills from Kemenah and Hudgins. With the Gray Wolves climbing back, middle blocker Audrey Soares got involved in the mix with a power spike to boost the Warriors' momentum. RCU went on a 9-0 run from the 8-11 mark to take a momentous six-point lead. The Gray Wolves responded with a big run of their own, but RCU closed out with a big-time block from Hudgins and outside hitter Madelyn Geisenhaver

FIFTH GAME - 7-15 LOURDES

• The Gray Wolves weren't phased by the sudden two-game swing from RCU, and took a commanding lead to begin the game-deciding set. Down 1-7, RCU strung together three straight points including a block from Kemenah and Hudgins. However, the Gray Wolves picked up after that, taking the fifth game and the match

STAT OF THE GAME

Kemenah's 12 kills are a collegiate career-high. 

UP NEXT

RCU heads back to Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 14 to face Defiance (OH) for the first time in WHAC play. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Shelley Carroll - RCU Volleyball