November 9, 2009

Rio volleyball has productive weekend

Rochester, NY --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm volleyball team had a productive weekend coming away with two wins in its final three matches of the regular season. Rio defeated Houghton in straight sets, 25-15, 30-28 and 25-21 on Friday and split a tri-match versus Point Park and Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday. Rio lost to Point Park in three games, 18-25, 23-25 and 10-25 and came back from two games down to knock off Roberts in five games, 25-27, 18-25, 26-24, 25-23 and 15-9. 

Rio Grande (17-18) has some momentum heading into the post-season winning four of its last five matches to close the season. The RedStorm will be the No. 3 seed in the Mid-South Conference set to get underway on Tuesday in Frankfort, Ky. 

Rio had strong performances up front in the win over Houghton. Freshman middle hitter Erin Sherman (South Webster, OH) led the way with 12 kills, followed by fellow freshman Whitney Smith (Albany, OH) with 11. Junior middle blocker Rachel Walker (Ironton, OH) was on the verge of double figures with nine kills.  Sherman was a factor defensively also as she notched two solo blocks and four block assists.  Smith nearly reached double figures in digs with nine and was 17-for-18 serving with one ace.

Junior libero Jacquie Whittle (Chillicothe, OH) paced the defense with 25 digs. Junior setter Ashley Bloom (Columbus, OH) handed out 22 assists and recorded 16 digs to aid the Rio cause. Bloom also registered three serve aces. 

Other key contributions came from junior middle hitter Kati Moore (Lancaster, OH) with five kills and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Belknap (Pickerington, OH) tallied three block assists.

Houghton fell to 7-18 on the season with the loss.

On Saturday, Rio ran into a very good Point Park team and lost in straight sets. Point Park improved to 30-7 with the win.

Walker led in kills with 10 while Smith added eight kills and, a team-high, 24 digs. 

Whittle added 13 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Kristen Cassady (Logan, OH) tallied nine in the game. 

Bloom handed out 17 assists in the loss and went 11-of-12 serving with a pair of aces. 

In the final match, Rio rallied after losing the first two games and came up a victor, taking the last three games. 

Rio again had three players in double figures in kills led by Smith with 15. Sherman and Kati Moore added 10 each and Walker tallied six. 

Moore had a huge game defensively with three solo blocks and four block assists. Sherman had two solo blocks and three block assists while Smith added three block assists and Walker had one solo and two assists. 

Whittle was all over the court defensively as she rounded up 39 digs and received plenty of help from comrades, Smith (21), Cassady (16) and Bloom (10).

Bloom distributed 20 assists while her freshman setting teammate Micah Motes (Chillicothe, OH) added 15. 

Rio will face Pikeville College in the opening round of the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Rio defeated Pikeville in both matches this season. 

This is the first post-season appearance for the Rio Grande volleyball team since 2000.