Pioneers notch sweep of RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Point Park University methodically pulled away in each of the first two sets before removing all suspense early in set three en route to a 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 win over the University of Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference women's volleyball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The Pioneers improved to 21-5 overall and 14-0 in conference play with the victory - its third in as many outings this season against the RedStorm.
     Rio Grande dropped to 15-11 overall and 9-6 in the RSC with the loss.
     The RedStorm trailed just 14-12 in the opening set following a kill by junior Amanda Rarick (Canal Winchester, OH), but Point Park reeled off 11 of the final 15 winners in the stanza to grab the early match lead.
     The Pioneers built an 18-10 advantage in set two, which Rio managed to slice to three on three separate occasions, including 23-20 after a kill by junior Shalea Byrd (Canal Winchester, OH), but Point Park tallied each of the final two winners to take a commanding lead.
     Set three lacked any drama from the outset.
     The Pioneers bolted to a 9-0 lead - with six of the points coming via Rio Grande attack errors - and never looked back, with the RedStorm getting no closer than six points at any stage of the remainder of the stanza.
     Point Park finished with a .358 attack percentage as team, totaling 38 kills and just nine errors in 81 swings.
     The Pioneers also had a solo block and 10 block assists at the net, while finishing with 13 service aces as well.
     Stephanie Rivera-Pacheco led PPU with 11 kills and 13 digs, while also tallying two service aces and a pair of block assists.
     Star Lakin added 20 assists and five service aces in the winning effort, while Ashlynn Gulakowski added 15 assists and Melissa Schroeder had three block assists.
     Ashley Castelli also had 10 digs for the Pioneers and Giulia Follador had four service aces and two block assists.
     Senior Jess Youse (Pettisville, OH) had nine kills to lead Rio Grande, which finished with just a .056 attack percentage after totaling 29 kills and 24 attack errors over 89 swings.
     Sophomore Avery Huntzinger (Canal Winchester, OH) had 28 assists in a losing cause, while junior Darcie Walters (Sparta, OH) was credited with eight digs.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Monday night when it hosts the University of Pikeville in non-conference play.
     First serve is set for 6 p.m.