Rio rallies to outlast Red Wolves in RSC opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - It had the feel of an old-fashioned heavyweight boxing match where the momentum swayed back and forth as the two combatants stood toe-to-toe trading haymakers.
     But when all was said and done, it was the University of Rio Grande that managed to land one final punch to emerge victorious.
     The RedStorm scored seven of the final nine points in the fifth and deciding set to rally for an 18-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 15-12 triumph over Indiana University East in the River States Conference women's volleyball opener for both Schools, Tuesday night, at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande improved to 12-4 overall with the win, while the visiting Red Wolves slipped to 10-6 with the loss - just their fourth setback in 21 all-time meetings with the RedStorm.
     IU East appeared to have regained its early momentum and control of the match after posting a resounding win in set three, but Rio never trailed en route to taking the fourth period and forcing the deciding stanza.
     The RedStorm jumped to a 4-1 lead in set five, but watched the Red Wolves methodically chip away before using a 4-0 run to grab a 10-8 cushion.
     That's when Rio mounted its game-ending charge, scoring four straight winners of its own to grab a 12-10 edge.
     IUE got kills from Jessica Swimm and Amyra Lockett on consecutive points to draw even at 12, but the RedStorm scored the final three points - capped by a kill by sophomore McKenna Diederich (Pickerington, OH) - to settle the issue once and for all.
     Rio Grande finished with a .173 attack percentage for the match (59 kills, 28 errors, 179 swings), but was particularly solid over the fourth and fifth sets with 27 kills and seven errors over 66 swings for a .303 attack percentage.
     Senior Amanda Rarick (Canal Winchester, OH) led the RedStorm with 18 kills, while sophomores Averie Bruce (Baltimore, OH) and Kelli Stewart had 13 and 11, respectively, in the win.
     Bruce also had a game-high five block assists, while Rarick and junior Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, OH) had three block assists each.
     McLoughlin was credited with 46 assists and 11 digs, while sophomore Jenna Harrison (Gallipolis, OH) had a team-best 18 digs.
     Junior Kayla Sedgwick (Richwood, OH) and senior Sofia Otero Marrero (Vega Baja, P.R.) added 14 and 10 digs, respectively, in the winning effort.
     IU East, which got off to a hot start at the net by tallying 18 kills and only four errors in its first 40 swings (.350 attack percentage), had just 36 kills and 24 errors in 124 attacks (.096) over the final four sets.
     Swimm had 14 kills, 13 digs, a two service aces, a solo block and three block assists in the loss for the Red Wolves.
     Lockett and Teah Barrett Matthews had 10 kills each for IUE, while Aislyn Hogan tallied 37 assists and Ella Bickell was credited with 21 digs. Matthew also had five block assists.
     Abby Herman added 15 digs foe East, while Summer Hendershot had 11 digs and three service aces and Sheridan Phillips had a solo block and three block assists.
     Both teams played without key members of their respective lineups.
     Rio senior Jordan Brooks (Reynoldsburg, OH) remained sidelined by an ankle injury, while IUE senior Reece Shirley - one of the top setters in the RSC - missed the game as she continues to recover from a concussion.
     Rio Grande returns to action this weekend when it opens a seven-game road swing at Brescia University on Friday night.