October 26, 2009

RedStorm volleyball wins home finale

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm volleyball squad closed out the home portion of the 2009 schedule with a victory over visiting Mountain State on Monday evening at the Newt Oliver Arena, winning by scores of 25-18, 25-18 and 25-9.

Rio Grande (14-17) has doubled its win total from the 2008 season. 

Rio changed tactics and went away from freshman middle hitter Erin Sherman (South Webster, OH) for this match. Junior middle blocker Rachel Walker (Ironton, OH) was the beneficiary of the switch as she led the way with 13 kills. Walker has really come on late in the year and gives the RedStorm another weapon as they head down the home stretch of the season. Freshman outside hitter Whitney Smith (Albany, OH) was her consistent self as she added 12 kills, 17 digs, one solo block, one block assist and one ace on 9-of-9 serving in the match.

Sherman still managed five kills to go along with two solo blocks and three block assists. 

Junior libero Jacquie Whittle (Chillicothe, OH) matched Smith with 17 digs to lead the defensive effort for the RedStorm. Whittle also had two serve aces. Freshman defensive specialist Kaci Shoemaker (Rio Grande, OH) stepped in and produced seven digs and really sparked the RedStorm early in the match.

"Kaci Shoemaker came in, she started the game off, one of the very few times that we started the game out winning, getting the first point," said Rio Grande head coach Billina Donaldson. "Kaci, a non-starter, comes in and starts for us tonight and just stepped up." 

Junior setter Ashley Bloom (Columbus, OH) had 20 assists and her freshman partner at the position, Micah Motes (Chillicothe, OH) doled out 12 assists. Bloom added a pair of serve aces as well. 

Donaldson also talked about the other player's stepping up in this match. "We've rode Sherman's back all year and we went with Rachel and Whitney tonight and they had 13 and 12 kills tonight."

Donaldson also credited junior middle hitter Kati Moore (Lancaster, OH) for her play in this match, primarily serving as a decoy. "Kati Moore is the most unselfish player on our team," Donaldson said. "She ran interference all night, holding their team's middle blocker, so that Rachel and Whitney were facing one blocker. One on one my hitters can beat anybody, but we've not had that all year and Kati just stepped up and took blockers with her all night."

With the victory, Rio Grande collects the season sweep over the Cougars having defeated them September 3 in Beckley. 

Donaldson was also pleased to be able to close the home schedule with a win. "It's about time we start playing a little better," she said. "I thought we looked like we went to the next level and finally took up a notch. Hopefully, this team doesn't team doesn't' disappear and we can bring it into the next game."

Mountain State falls to 11-16 with the loss. 

Rio Grande will close out the Mid-South Conference season and look to lock down third place in the MSC when it travels to Pikeville College on Thursday. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. 

Rio defeated Pikeville in straight sets at home (25-14, 25-19, and 25-21) on September 28.