GALESBURG, Ill. - Ripon's volleyball team remained in the thick of the race for a Midwest Conference Tournament spot with their fourth win in a row Saturday afternoon, a four-set victory at Knox College (25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20). The match featured just nine ties and two lead changes, all of which came in the final two sets. The win keeps the Red Hawks in a tie for the fourth and final Tournament spot with three games to play, and puts them one win shy of their highest win total in 10 years.

Ripon (15-9, 5-2 MWC) recorded double-digit kills in all four sets and posted a total hitting percentage of .326. A week and a half after setting a new career-high in kills with 24 in a match, Emily Gary duplicated that feat, which ranks 11th in school history for a single match. That gives her 823 kills in her three-year career, which is four shy of 10th place in Ripon's record book. Gary also posted a hitting percentage of .475 and recorded a team-high three service aces. Katie Berrell added 12 kills, while Brianne Milroy led the team in digs with 20. Kelli Walsh chipped in with a team-best three solo blocks, while Abbi Williamson's 45 assists paced the Red Hawks.

Knox (3-24, 1-7 MWC) was led by Rose Griffin's 17 kills, while Kyleigh Guthals added nine. Holly Bieber recorded team-highs of three service aces and 13 digs, while Casey Stachelski led the team with 34 assists.

The Red Hawks will now get ready for their most important match to date on Wednesday, as they'll travel to Carroll University to play a Pioneers team that is tied with the Red Hawks in the conference standings. That match will begin at 7 p.m. in Waukesha, Wis. and can be seen live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.