Byrd helps RedStorm fly past Eagles

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Shalea Byrd finished with a career-high 15 kills and Amanda Rarick added 14 of her own to lead the University of Rio Grande in a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14) victory over Alice Lloyd College, Tuesday night, in River States Conference women's volleyball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The RedStorm improved to 13-8 overall and 7-3 in league play with the win.
     With the loss, the Eagles slipped to 6-13 overall and 0-10 inside the RSC.
     Byrd, a junior from Canal Winchester, Ohio, tallied a .423 attack percentage with just four errors in 26 swings.
     Rarick's big night at the net also included four block assists on defense.
     As a team, Rio finished with 48 kills and 20 errors in 111 attacks for a .252 attack percentage.
     The RedStorm never trailed in sets one and three and were behind just twice in set two at 2-0 and 3-1, before reeling off six straight winners to take the lead for good.
     Head coach Billina Donaldson's club closed out the match with the final seven points.
     Sophomore Avery Huntzinger (Canal Winchester, OH) had a match-best 37 assists in the winning effort, while junior Darcie Walters (Sparta, OH) and senior Kacie Trame (Toledo, OH) finished with 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
     Rio also was the beneficiary of a match-high seven block assists from senior Jess Youse (Pettisville, OH).
     Alice Lloyd finished with more errors (18) than it had kills (17) in 87 attacks for a -.011 swing percentage.
     Elizabeth McIntosh had five kills to pace the Eagles, while Kristin Isaac had 10 assists and Jenni Droke tallied 11 digs.
     Lakyn Porter added a solo block and two block assists for ALC.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Friday when it opens a two-game, weekend road swing at RSC West Division leader and defending conference champion Indiana University Kokomo.
     First serve is set for 7 p.m.