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BELOIT, Wis. - For the first time in 11 years (2003), the Ripon College volleyball team has begun a season with a 4-0 record. They accomplished that feat at the Beloit Buc Blast over the weekend, finishing the event as the only undefeated team out of the seven squads that participated. The Red Hawks lost just three sets in their four matches, defeating Marian, Rockford and MSOE in four sets, while disposing of Alverno in three.

In their first match of the season, a 25-20, 25-16, 15-25, 25-15 win over Marian on Friday, freshman Katie Berrell led all Red Hawks with 13 kills, while finishing second on the team with nine digs. Emily Gary added 12 kills, while finishing with a hitting percentage of .476. Abbi Williamson set up the big hitters all match long, recording 41 of the team's 48 assists, while Brianne Milroy led Ripon's defense with 19 digs.

The Red Hawks followed that up with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-15 sweep of Alverno. In that match, Berrell and Gary tied for the team lead with 14 kills, with recording hitting percentages of .650 and .778, respectively. Allison Barnes also recorded double-digit kills with 10, to go along with eight digs and a team-high four blocks (all solo). Williamson again led the team in assists with 39, while Milroy led the way in digs (15).

Ripon followed their Friday night performance with a pair of equally impressive outings on Saturday, beginning with a 25-20, 25-21, 19-25, 25-21 victory over Rockford University. Gary and Barnes led the way with 13 kills apiece against the Regents, with Berrell adding 11. Barnes added 12 digs, while Milroy led that category with 22. Williamson finished with 48 of the team's 51 assists.

The weekend was capped with a 25-19, 25-13, 24-26, 25-21 victory over MSOE. In that match, Berrell saved her best for last, recording a team-high 17 kills (.324 hitting percentage). Barnes added 10 kills, 12 digs and four blocks, while Gary posted four kills, eight digs and a match-high eight blocks (one solo). Milroy led the team with 22 digs, while Williamson chipped in with a team-best 43 assists, 13 digs, four kills and four blocks (one solo).

The Red Hawks will try to continue their hot start to the season next weekend when they'll take part in the UW-Stevens Point Invitational where they will play 18th-ranked UW-Whitewater and Wisconsin Lutheran Friday at 3 and 5 p.m., respectively. That will be followed by matches on Saturday against St. Norbert and the third ranked team in Division-III, UW-Stevens Point.