Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - The Ripon volleyball team is off to their best start to a conference season in four years, thanks to a three-set victory over Knox College Friday night. The Red Hawks seemed to get stronger as the match went on, defeating the Prairie Fire, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 to move to 4-1 in the Midwest Conference and remain in a second-place tie with Carroll University.

Ripon (12-12, 4-1 MWC) had no fewer than 13 kills in any of their three sets against Knox, whom they defeated for the 10th consecutive time, dating back to 2003. Karlye Wehner led the way with 14 kills, while Abbi Williamson recorded a career-high 10 kills, to go along with a match-best 31 assists, five digs and two block assists. With those 31 assists, Williamson moves into ninth place in Ripon's single season record book. Emily Gary added eight kills for the Red Hawks, while Brianne Milroy posted a match-high 12 digs. Ripon finished the match with a hitting percentage of .292, with Wehner, Williamson and Gary each recording hitting percentages of at least .430.

Knox (3-18, 1-5 MWC) was led by Kaylie Prince's seven kills, while Casey Stachelski posted a team-high 21 assists. The Prairie Fire finished the game with a hitting percentage of .101.

The Red Hawks will look to remain in the upper echelon of the MWC Saturday when they'll host Monmouth College at 1 p.m. That match will be played in Storzer Center's Wyman Gymnasium and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal#.