RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College volleyball team opened the Red Hawks Invitational at home with a commanding sweep over Maranatha Baptist before dropping a four-set battle to Buena Vista inside Weiske Gymnasium on Friday night.

Game 1

Ripon opened the tournament in commanding fashion against the Sabercats, taking control early and never looking back in a 25-13, 25-18, 25-13 sweep. The first set stayed close through the opening points before sophomore Hannah Michaels (Waukesha, Wis., Waukesha North HS) sparked a 7-1 run with a pair of kills to give the Red Hawks a 17-9 advantage. Ripon closed strong behind tough serving from senior Lainie Heizler (Park Falls, Wis., Chequamegon HS) and senior Samantha Differt (Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Sevastopol HS), each recording two aces in the opener.

The second set saw Marantha keep things close until the midpoint before Heizler again made her presence felt, notching a pair of blocks and an ace as the Red Hawks pulled away for a 25-18 win. Ripon saved its best for last, with Michaels, freshman Addi Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS), and junior Haylee Kast (Reedsburg, Wis., Reedsburg Area HS) combining for 12 kills in the third set as the hosts closed out the sweep 25-13. Michaels led the team with 12 kills, while freshman Mattea Jacobson (Saint Croix Falls, Wis., Saint Croix Falls HS) and freshman Tristin Arlen (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) combined for 28 assists.

Game 2

The nightcap saw Ripon take the opening set against Buena Vista 25-23 behind a balanced attack led by Johnson and sophomore Makenna Harren (Rosemount, Minn., Rosemount HS). However, the Beavers regrouped in the second, pulling away late for a 25-20 win to even the match.

Ripon battled in the third with Johnson recording seven kills and senior Michaela Riege (Waterloo, Wis., Bryant & Stratton College) anchoring the defense with four digs, but a late Buena Vista run secured the 25-21 victory to give the visitors the edge. The Beavers carried that momentum into the fourth set, closing out the match with a 25-16 win despite strong defensive efforts from Riege and freshman Bryn Carlson (Green Lake, Wis., Ripon HS).

Johnson finished with a team high 12 kills, followed by Harren with nine, and freshman Alexis Wieczorek (Crete, Ill., Crete-Monee HS) with eight. Senior Emily Braun (Juneau, Wis., Dodgeland HS) dished out 21 assists, while Riege collected 16 digs.

Up Next

Day two of the Red Hawks Invitational sees the Ripon facing Central (Iowa) and Westminster inside Weiske Gymnasium at 12 pm and 2 pm.