RIPON, Wisconsin — The Ripon volleyball program ended its season on Saturday afternoon inside the Weiske Gymnasium, falling 3-2 to Loras on Senior Day.
 
Though Ripon took two of the first three sets, Loras rallied late to post a five-set victory with set scores of 25-27, 25-16, 11-25, 25-18, 15-12.
 
The teams traded points in the early portion of the first set – neither was able to hold an advantage of more than three. After Ripon (10-19) went up 10-7 on a 3-0 run, Loras (13-16) pulled even at 12 moments later with three consecutive points of its own. With Ripon leading 20-18, the Duhawks stormed back with a 5-0 run to lead 23-20. After calling its final timeout of the set, Ripon fended off three Loras set points to stay alive before eventually winning the set 27-25.
 
Loras shook off the rust in set two, scoring nine of the first 10 points. From there, Ripon responded with a 4-0 run to cut into the lead. Though Ripon pulled within three after being down eight twice in the frame, Loras kept a steady lead and claimed the last three points to win the set by nine.
 
Both sides were even at the beginning of set three. After the teams were deadlocked at 4, Ripon went on a critical 6-0 run to pull ahead 10-4 before Loras was back on the board. Loras cut the deficit to five at 12-7 before the Red Hawks responded with a huge 9-0 run, effectively putting the set away. Soon after, an Ellie Ove kill and a Duhawk attack error gave the set to Ripon.
 
Loras came out of the gate firing in set four and scored the first four points. The Duhawks later led 11-5, forcing a Ripon timeout. The margin eventually grew to 18-9 – the largest Loras lead of the set – and the Duhawks convincingly forced a fifth set with a seven-point win, activating the second fifth-set match of the season for Ripon.
 
Emily Braun started off the final set with an ace and the Red Hawks were in business early, scoring the first three points. After Ripon led 7-4, the Duhawks answered with a 4-0 spurt to pull ahead 8-7 as the teams switched sides. However, the Red Hawks would not be denied as Ripon swung ahead with a 4-0 run of its own. After Ripon led 12-9, Loras made one final push for the win, scoring the next six points to win the set 15-12.
 
Three Red Hawks were in double figures in kills: Paris Croker had 12, followed by Lydia Ellis and Ove with 10. Riley Nielsen had 23 assists, just short of a season-high, while Braun chipped in 12.
 
Defensively, another three Red Hawks had 10 or more digs: Sam Differt had 17, Sam Thrasher collected 15 to end her Ripon career and Bella Kasuboski tallied 11.
 
The teams were evenly matched across the final statistics, as Loras had a 55-50 advantage in kills. Ripon had 12 aces compared to Loras' 7, but the Duhawks had twice as many blocks as the Red Hawks (4-2).
 
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