FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Ripon College volleyball team picked up a 3-1 road victory over Marian University on Friday night, winning by set scores of 21-25, 25-23, 25-12, 25-23. The win improves Ripon to 6-8 on the season, while Marian falls to 1-11.
The Sabres took control early, capitalizing on Red Hawk errors to claim the opening set 25-21. Ripon bounced back in set two behind the steady play of freshman setter Mattea Jacobson (Saint Croix Falls, Wis., Saint Croix Falls HS), who dished out 17 assists in the match. The Red Hawks pulled ahead late, securing a 25-23 win to even the match at one set apiece.
Momentum stayed with Ripon in the third, as a balanced attack and strong defense keyed a 25-12 set win. Sophomore Makenna Harren (Rosemount, Minn., Rosemount HS) led the way offensively with a team-high 17 kills, while senior Michaela Riege (Waterloo, Wis., Bryant & Stratton College) anchored the defense with 22 digs and three service aces.
The Red Hawks closed things out in a tightly contested fourth set, getting key kills from senior Lainie Heizler (Park Falls, Wis., Chequamegon HS) and freshman Addi Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS) to finish off the 25-23 win. Heizler added nine kills and a match-best seven blocks, while Johnson chipped in seven kills and four digs.
Ripon out-blocked Marian 10-3 and tallied eight service aces to the Sabres' one. Freshman, Brooklyn Tranberg (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS) and Bryn Carlson (Green Lake, Wis., Ripon HS) combined for 30 digs as the Red Hawks' back row held strong in the victory.
The Red Hawks return to action tomorrow, Sept 20, in Milwaukee at the WLC Triangular, where they will face host Wisconsin Lutheran College at 10 am and Augustana College (IL) at 12 pm.