RIPON, Wis. – The Ripon volleyball team hosted Knox College on Friday night, pulling off a five-set thriller to earn a Midwest Conference win. The Red Hawks have now won two of their last three matches in league play and are just one win shy of matching last year's conference total 
 
A service ace from Emily Braun put Ripon in front 3-0 in the opening set, and the Red Hawks were off and running from there. Sophomore Kelly Kline led the offense with six kills to help the home team cruise to a 25-13 set win and the early 1-0 lead. 
 
Inesha Wiseman came away with five kills in the second, but it wasn't enough, as Ripon ended up on the short side of a 25-23 set that saw the Prairie Fire tie the match at 1-1. Knox followed with another 25-23 victory to move in front 2-1, but the Red Hawks refused to go quietly. 
 
Ripon stormed back in a big way, taking the fourth set with a convincing 25-14 win to force a decisive fifth set. The Red Hawks kept all the momentum, taking an 8-2 lead in the final frame before swapping sides. 
 
The lead swelled to 10-2 before the Prairie Fire recorded another point, and it looked like the Red Hawks would put it on cruise control. Knox made a run late to keep it interesting, but Ripon held on for a 15-9 clincher in front of the home crowd.  
 
Wiseman finished her night with a game-high 17 kills, while Arynn Mathieu followed with a dozen of her own. Karly Westphal recorded a double-double in the win, while four Red Hawk players racked up ten or more digs apiece. 
 
Ripon is back in action on Saturday, when they host Monmouth at Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Gymnasium in Midwest Conference action. First serve against the Scots is slated for 1:00 p.m.