Crimson Pride rallies to stun Rio

Rio Grande Sports Information
     COLUMBUS, Ind. - Indiana University Columbus rallied to force a fifth deciding set and then went on to stun the University of Rio Grande by scores of 22-25, 25-18, 19-25, 26-24, 15-12, Friday night, in River States Conference women's volleyball play at the CERA Sports Park and Campground.
     The host Crimson Pride improved to 12-6 overall and 3-3 against conference foes with the victory.
     Rio Grande, which had a nine-game winning streak snapped, slipped to 16-7 overall and 5-1 in the RSC with the loss.
     The RedStorm had the 2-1 match lead, but never led by more than two points while trying to end things in set four.
     Rio's last lead in the period came at 11-10 after a service error by the Crimson Pride, but IUC reeled off five of the next six points to take a 15-12 advantage.
     The RedStorm did rally to force five ties, including 24-24, but the hosts used a Rio service error and an ace by Cora Baker to send the match to a fifth stanza.
     Rio led 10-9 in set five after a dual block of an attack by IUC's Ruthie Bingham by junior Averie Bruce (Baltimore, OH) and senior Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, OH), but the RedStorm was outscored 6-2 the rest of the way to close out the surprise comeback.
     The final two points of the night came on a Rio service error - one of 10 on the night by the RedStorm - and a service ace by IUC's Sadie Egan.
     Rio Grande hit just .099 for the match with 46 kills and 29 errors in 172 swings.
     Stewart had a match-best 16 kills to go along with 17 digs, while redshirt freshman Taylor Bartrum (Catlettsburg, KY) had 11 kills and 13 digs of her own.
     McLoughlin finished with 28 assists, 14 digs and four service aces, while junior Jenna Harrison (Gallipolis, OH) had 21 digs and Bruce finished with two solo blocks and six block assists.
     IU Columbus had 59 kills and 34 errors in 203 attacks for a .123 swing percentage.
     Baker had 15 kills and 19 digs in the winning effort, while Egan had 13 kills, 14 assists, 15 digs and three service aces and Journee Brown had 12 kills and four block assists.
     Bingham tacked on 10 kills in the winning effort for the Crimson Pride, while Bailey Stevens had 33 assists and 15 digs and Ava Granson had a solo block and three block assists.
     Rio Grande will look to rebound on Saturday afternoon when it plays at Indiana University Southeast.
     First serve is set for 1 p.m.