No. 16 Cougars topple RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The start was good. The final three sets? Not so much.
     After an opening set win against 16th-ranked Indiana University Kokomo, the University of Rio faltered over the remaining three stanzas and dropped a 22-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-20 decision to the visiting Cougars, Thursday night, River States Conference women's volleyball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, the top team in the RSC's East Division, dropped to 20-8 overall and 8-2 against conference foes with the loss.
     IU Kokomo pushed its record to 20-5 overall and 10-0 in the RSC with the win.
     Rio Grande won the opening set, in large part, thanks to its .200 attack percentage (17 kills, 7 errors, 50 attacks) and a .060 swing percentage for the Cougars (10 kills, 7 error, 50 swings).
     But from that point, swinging success proved to be a major issue for the RedStorm.
     Rio had 24 kills and 23 errors in 105 swings over the final three stanzas for a .010 attack percentage.
     IUK never trailed in sets two or three and used an 8-1 run in set four to erase a 13-12 deficit and take a commanding 20-14 lead.
     The RedStorm managed to pull within four points on four occasions, but got no closer the rest of the way.
     Rio finished with 41 kills and 30 errors in 155 swings for a .071 attack percentage
     Kokomo finished with a .175 swing percentage after tallying 53 kills and 25 errors in 160 attacks.
     Mia Niekamp had 16 kills to lead the Cougars, while Allison Richman and Macy Chaffin totaled 30 and 11 assists, respectively.
     Avery Littrell had 23 digs and three service aces in the winning effort, while Mya Grigsby had 10 digs and Ryleigh Hamilton had a solo block and six block assists.
     Rio Grande got 14 kills and 12 digs from redshirt freshman Taylor Bartrum (Catlettsburg, KY), while junior Kelli Stewart (Waverly, OH) had 10 kills and 16 digs.
     Senior Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, OH) had 32 assists and four block assists, while juniors Jenna Harrison (Gallipolis, OH) and Nigella Reck (Covington, OH) tallied 18 and 12 digs, respectively, and senior Olivia Smith (Bainbridge, OH) had five block assists.
     Rio Grande returns to action Friday night when it hosts St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in another RSC matchup.
     First serve is set for 7 p.m.