WARRIORS FALL IN THREE GAMES TO #20 MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE IN SEASON DEBUT

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - A 14-kill third game from the Warriors helped keep the Warriors in swinging distance of stealing a game from the #20 Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars on Friday afternoon, but the hosting Cougars put things away on the final few points to wrap up the Warriors' first match of the season 0-3. Junior Hailee Mancogna led the way in the third game with four kills, leading the Warriors overall with seven. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST GAME - MVNU 25-10 (0-1)

• Things did not start the Warriors' way to begin the contest, with the Cougars jumping out to a 15-1 lead behind a string of kills from outside hitter Libby Evanshine. Junior Madelyn Geisenhaver and Macogna stopped the bleeding with three consecutive points, including a kill and an ace from Geisenhaver
• The Warriors tacked on two more points off errors by the Cougars, while sophomore Kourtney Mack tacked on a kill in the game's final points before the 25th MVNU score

SECOND GAME - MVNU 25-9 (0-2)

• Geisenhaver recorded a second service ace early in the second game, followed by a kill from Mancogna to get the Warriors close to Mount Vernon Nazarene. However, the 20th-ranked team in the nation pulled out ahead on an 8-0 run. During the 18th rally of the game, Geisenhaver made a spectacular diving save to keep the ball alive on the Warriors' end of the floor
• Kills were hard to come by for RCU, with the Cougars finding success blocking the ball. The Warriors kept trying to find ways to keep the points alive, including an impressive accidental header pass from setter Mackenzie Keefer. However, the Cougars kept their red-hot momentum and secured the second set

THIRD GAME - MVNU 25-20 (0-3)

• In this game, a switch flipped for the Warriors, with Geisenhaver and freshman Alivia Everitt getting early kills off sets from Keefer. Following another kill from Everitt, Mancogna's swings found the money for the Warriors on two consecutive points before a double block from Keefer and senior middle Audrey Soares tied things up
• Mack joined the action with two consecutive emphatic kills to help the Warriors take a 12-11 lead. Geisenhaver and sophomore setter Hannah Roddis helped set up several key Warrior points during the second half of the third game; earning kills for Soares and Mancogna
• Junior Mackenzie Kemenah earned the Warriors' final kill of the match, but a 4-2 run from the Cougars iced the game

STAT OF THE GAME

In her collegiate debut, Everitt was highly efficient - the middle blocker recorded four kills on five attacking attempts, with all her kills taking place in the third game. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors continue the Cougar Classic with two games on Saturday, Aug. 17. RCU starts with Huntington (IN) at 10 a.m. before facing #RV Indiana East at 2 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications