RIPON, Wisconsin — The Ripon volleyball program won its first Midwest Conference match on Saturday as the Red Hawks cruised past Knox College 3-0 inside Weiske Gymnasium by set scores of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-20.
Ripon (8-16, 1-4 MWC) got things going early, jumping out to an 8-3 lead in the first set. A 4-0 run by Knox tied the set at 12 before Ripon countered with a 4-0 run of its own to retake the lead. Leading 19-16, the Red Hawks scored six of the next seven points to take the opening frame in convincing fashion.
In set two, Knox (2-15, 1-5 MWC) held a pair of early leads at 2-1 and 4-3 before Ripon took control of the set once again. Five consecutive points, with the help of two Prairie Fire errors, opened Ripon's advantage to 11-6. Holding a slim 15-13 lead, the Red Hawks ended the set with three different runs of three consecutive points to take set two 25-16.
Knox would not go away in set three, however. Aided by five consecutive points, the Prairie Fire led 14-12 but a 4-0 Ripon run immediately after reclaimed the lead for the Red Hawks. Still, Knox's latest lead came at 18-17, but Ripon used a match-ending 8-2 spurt to earn its first sweep since September 15.
Ripon's .290 hitting percentage was its highest since September 9 in a win against Mount Mary. The Red Hawks had 52 total kills while holding Knox to just 27 – the second-fewest kills Ripon has allowed this season. Ripon also held advantages in digs (62-49) and assists (43-20).
For the third consecutive match, Ripon had at least three players with double-figure kills.
Ellie Ove had a match-high 12, while
Paris Croker had 11 and both
Lydia Ellis and
Haylee Kast had 10. Ellis hit a blistering .533 in the match, good for a season-high.
Emily Braun had 31 kills to spread the wealth offensively, while
Sam Thrasher had 17 digs to lead the charge defensively.
Ripon stays home next weekend as the Red Hawks host Grinnell on Friday (October 27) at 7 p.m. inside Weiske Gymnasium.
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