RIPON, Wis. - Ripon's volleyball team opened their 2016 season Friday night with a four-set victory over UW-River Falls during Day One of the Ripon Quadrangular. That marks Ripon's second win against UW-River Falls in three years, with each of their previous two matches going the full five sets.

Friday, the teams split the first two sets with Ripon (1-0) winning the first 25-19 and UW-River Falls (0-1) taking the second, 25-19, before the Red Hawks ended the match by winning the next two sets, 25-15 and 25-14. The match featured 12 ties, but just two lead changes.

Senior Paige Buddenhagen paced Ripon with 16 kills, to go along with four blocks (one solo). Katie Berrell added 13 kills, while tying Maddie Koster for the team lead in digs (16). Kat Kulas also had an exceptional match, recording nine kills and a team-best hitting percentage of .421, in addition to a team-high seven blocks (one solo). Abbi Williamson led all players with 42 assists.

UW-River Falls was led by Dakotah Poitra and Amara Meyer, whom each recorded 10 kills. Hannah Robb led all players with 25 digs, while Raven Klein recorded a team-high 39 assists.

The Red Hawks will be in action again on Saturday as they'll face Alverno and North Central (Ill.) at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively during the second and final day of the 2016 Ripon Quadrangular.