RIPON, Wis. -- The 2025 Ripon College Classic opened the season for the Red Hawks today, with the hosts recording a straight set win over Martin Luther College before falling in three to Saint Mary's University. 

Game 1

Ripon opened their season in strong fashion against the visiting Knights. Back and forth in the first set until the 18-15 point, the Red Hawks would put the set away in commanding fashion, taking the next seven consecutive points to take a 1-0 advantage into the second. Sophomore Makenna Harren (Rosemount, Minn., Rosemount HS) would earn kills for three of those seven points and keep that momentum, continuing on for the rest of the match in dominant fashion. Harren would lead all players with 17 kills for the match, picking up four kills in the second as the Red Hawks sailed to a 25-9 set win. 

Down 0-2 and looking to stay in the match, Martin Luther would scramble in the third, picking up the first six points of the set despite Ripon's attempts to put the match away. Undeterred, the Red Hawks would claw back, putting together a six-point run of their own to take an 11-10 advantage. Even into the final points of the set, Harren would put the match away for the hosts, bolstered by accurate sets from teammates Mattea Jacobson (Saint Croix Falls, Wis., Saint Croix Falls HS) and Emily Braun (Juneau, Wis., Dodgeland HS). Harren would record seven kills in the third, including two of the final three points, with the Red Hawks taking the match 25-20. 

Game 2

Ripon faced strong competition from the Cardinals in Game 2, with Saint Mary's taking six of the opening seven points. Although an extended run would see the Cardinals take a 19-7 lead, the Red Hawks would find some footing late, putting together a five point run as the set neared its conclusion. However, Saint Mary's would weather the comeback attempt, and put the first set away against the hosts 25-14. The second set would see Ripon stay even with their opponent, matching runs with runs behind senior Michaela Riege's (Waterloo, Wis., Waterloo HS) strong serving. The Cardinals would continue to chip away at the Red Hawks with a strong presence up front, capturing the second 25-17 with a pair of final kills. 

The Red Hawks put together a strong set three, taking a 12-9 lead over the Cardinals halfway through the proceedings behind an even mix of host team kills and Saint Mary's errors. A pair of blocks would even the score for the Cardinals, giving the visitors momentum as the set neared its close. Although the Red Hawks would even things out with three points to play, Saint Mary's would claim the 25-22 match win with a pair of service aces. 

Up Next

Day two of the Ripon College Classic commences tomorrow at 10am, with the Red Hawks taking on UW-Superior and Emmaus University. The Yellowjackets dropped both their day one games, falling to Saint Mary's and Aurora, while the Eagles also went 0-2, dropping games to Aurora and Martin Luther.