Rio Grande---The University of Rio Grande RedStorm volleyball team started a stretch of seven matches in three days with a victory at the Newt Oliver Arena on Wednesday night over West Virginia Tech. 

Rio won in straight sets, 25-11, 25-6 and 25-14. Rio Grande (5-4, 3-2 MSC) started a little slow after a week lay-off, but once the RedStorm found their rhythm they made short work of short-handed visitors.

Freshman middle hitter Erin Sherman (South Webster, OH) led the offensive attack for Rio Grande with 14 kills. She also served four aces and had one solo block and four block assists. Fellow freshman Whitney Smith (Albany, OH) added nine kills, six serve aces and seven digs.

Junior setter Ashley Bloom (Columbus, OH) handed out 21 assists and also recorded six aces on the night. Rio Grande posted 18 serve aces in the match. Freshman setter Micah Motes (Chillicothe, OH) was on the verge of double figures in assists with eight.

Defensively, junior libero Jacquie Whittle (Chillicothe, OH) led the defense for the RedStorm as she registered nine digs.

"We know that West Virginia Tech played their first game last night, so we didn't really know what to expect coming into tonight," said Rio Grande head coach Billina Donaldson. "We like to watch people, check their websites and see how they're doing, who they played, who they beat, who they lost to and really didn't know anything coming in."

"They gave us a lot of free ball situations and were able to let our hitters shine a lot tonight," Donaldson added. "So, we were happy about that."

Donaldson knows that her team has a tough stretch coming up, but feels like they are more than ready for it. "They're excited about it, because they're tired of practicing, they want to get out and play," Donaldson said. 

Rio heads to Lindsey Wilson for a doubleheader tomorrow and then will travel on South, to Cumberland (TN) University to play in a tournament over the weekend.