Rio's Avery Huntzinger (left) had 37 assists and Shalea Byrd (right) had 10 kills in the RedStorm's straight sets win over Carlow University, Thursday night, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Posted: Oct 13, 2022

RedStorm cruises to sweep of Carlow

Rio Grande Sports Information
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The University of Rio Grande used big runs in each of the first two sets to grab a commanding lead and led from start to finish in the third stanza to post a straight sets sweep of Carlow University, Thursday night, in River States Conference women's volleyball action at
The RedStorm improved to 12-7 overall and 6-2 in league play with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-16 victory - their fifth straight triumph.
The host Celtics fell to 9-8 overall and 1-8 in the RSC with the loss.
Rio Grande trailed 9-8 in set one after a kill by Carlow's Elli Cook, but the RedStorm reeled off nine consecutive winners and never looked back.
In set two, the Celtics enjoyed a 7-4 advantage after an attack error by Rio sophomore Jordan Brooks (Reynoldsburg, OH), but the RedStorm fired off 10 straight winners - including three kills by Brooks and two by junior Shalea Byrd (Canal Winchester, OH) - to take control.
Carlow was as close as 4-3 and 5-4 in the final period, but Rio sealed the win with an 8-0 run which stretched their lead to 22-10 and helped finish off the match moments later.
The RedStorm finished with a season-best .379 attack percentage via 46 kills and just 13 errors in 87 swings.
Junior Amanda Rarick (Canal Winchester, OH) had a match-high 14 kills, while Byrd and senior Jess Youse (Pettisville, OH) totaled 10 each.
Sophomore Avery Huntzinger had 37 assists and a pair of service aces in the winning effort, while junior Darcie Walters (Sparta, OH) had 12 digs and two aces of her own.
Senior Kacie Trame (Toledo, OH) had two aces of her own for Rio, while Byrd, Youse and Huntzinger all were credited with two block assists each.
Allison Humberston had nine kills to lead Carlow, while Meghan Alexander and Kelsey O'Leary tallied 16 and 12 assists, respectively. O'Leary also had three service aces.
Angel Klein had six digs in a losing cause for the Celtics, while Javonna Perkins had two solo blocks and two block assists.
Carlow finished with 31 kills and 16 errors over 93 attacks for a .161 swing percentage.
Rio Grande concludes its road swing to the Steel City on Friday when it battles Point Park University in a 4 p.m. first serve.