Rio Grande Sports Information
HUNTINGTON, Ind. - The University of Rio Grande women's volleyball team opened its 2025 campaign in impressive fashion on Friday with a pair of straight sets in the Forester Invitational hosted by Huntington University.
The RedStorm, who received votes in the NAIA preseason Top 25 for the first time in school history earlier in the week, trounced Wilberforce University 25-11, 25-11, 25-15 before taking down Calumet (Ind.) College of St. Joseph 25-14, 25-15, 25-10.
In the opener against Wilberforce, head coach Billina Donaldson's squad trailed just once in the first two sets - at 1-0 in set two - and pulled away late in the third period for the sweep.
Rio Grande finished with an impressive .339 swing percentage after tallying 32 kills and 13 errors in 56 attacks.
Redshirt freshman transfer Taylor Bartrum (Cherry Hill, KY) led the winning effort with 11 kills and four service aces, while senior Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, OH) had 17 assists and junior Jenna Harrison (Gallipolis, OH) recorded a team-best nine digs.
Freshman Gracie Perkins (Wheelersburg, OH) was also strong defensively for Rio, collecting four solo blocks and one block assist.
Wilberforce, which ended with eight more attack errors (18) than kills (10) in 47 swings for a -.170 percentage, was led by Jamika Coleman with three kills and Jamaya Johnson with seven assists.
Coleman, Anani Sheppard and Mycole Solis had two digs each in the loss for the Bulldogs.
In the second match of the day against the Crimson Wave, Rio Grande never trailed at any point and again enjoyed a decisive advantage at the net.
The RedStorm recorded a .500 attack percentage (35 kills, 7 errors, 56 attacks), while Calumet had 10 kills and 17 errors in 42 swings for a -.167 percentage.
Junior Kelli Stewart (Waverly, OH) led Rio with 10 kills, while McLoughlin had 22 assists and Harrison had six digs.
Bartrum recorded three of the RedStorm's 11 service aces and Perkins tallied five block assists.
Berta Comino Couceiro led Calumet with five kills, while Teagan Rath had five assists and Andrea Matias finished with six digs.
Rio Grande will wrap up play in the season-opening event on Saturday when it faces Governors State (Ill.) University at noon and host Huntington University at 2 p.m.
