GALESBURG, Ill. -- Ripon College Volleyball (8-15, 2-3 MWC) took down a Midwest Conference opponent today, defeating Knox College (3-22, 1-3 MWC) by a score of 3-1. Sophomore Makenna Harren (Rosemount, Minn., Rosemount HS) led all players in kills with 16, and currently sits at third in the conference for kills this season. 

The teams started Saturday's match up evenly, feeling each other out for the first half of set one. Even at 14-all, the Red Hawks would assert their will, helped by a pair of aces from libero Michaela Riege (Waterloo, Wis., Waterloo HS). Including the strong serves, the Red Hawks captured 10 of the next 12, putting them in control of the set as the final points came into view. Harren would earn the final kill of the first, putting the Red Hawks up 1-0. 

Ripon maintained their momentum in the second set, jumping out to a 16-8 lead thanks to strong team play. Setter Emily Braun (Juneau, Wis., Dodgeland HS) would assist in the offensive display as the Red Hawks claimed the second, ending with 20 kills for the contest.

The third set provided a speed bump for Ripon, with Knox taking a 17-10 lead as the visitors struggled with service returns. Despite a late trio of Ripon points to stay in the set, the Red Hawks would fall 17-25, putting the score at 1-2 heading into the fourth. 

Ripon came out of the set break with a clear focus, executing on the game plan to the tune of a 20-7 lead. Freshman Bryn Carlson (Green Lake, Wis., Ripon HS) proved to have the hot hand on serve in the set, tallying three aces as Ripon looked to emphatically close the book on the match. Freshman Addi Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS) would serve out the set and the contest for the Red Hawks, with two final errors from the hosts giving Ripon a 25-13 win. 

The Red Hawks return to the court next Saturday, Oct 25, against Grinnell. The Pioneers enter the game 8-11 overall but 3-0 in conference, coming off a 3-0 win over Luther.