Ripon College Athletics

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Ripon College volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday, falling to North Central College 3-0 before responding with a dominant 3-0 sweep of Dominican University. The Red Hawks move to 5-11 overall on the season.

Ripon opened the day against North Central, dropping the first set 25-17. The Red Hawks continued to battle in the second set, but North Central took a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 victory. Ripon put together its closest set of the match in the third, but North Central held on for a 25-22 win to complete the sweep. 

Junior Hannah Michaels (Waukesha, Wis., Waukesha North HS) led Ripon's offensive effort against North Central, recording eight kills on 12 attacks while hitting .667. Sophomore Addi Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS) followed with seven kills, while sophomore Mattea Jacobson (Saint Croix Falls, Wis., Saint Croix Falls HS) contributed six kills and a team-high 24 assists. Senior Haylee Kast (Reedsburg, Wis., Reedsburg Area HS) added five kills and junior Makenna Harren (Rosemount, Minn., Rosemount HS) finished with four.

Sophomore Bryn Carlson (Green Lake, Wis., Ripon HS) anchored the defensive effort with 14 digs, while sophomore Brooklyn Tranberg (Milwaukee, Wis., Wisconsin Lutheran HS) recorded nine digs and four total blocks. Jacobson added four digs and two blocks, while the Red Hawks finished the match with 33 kills and 28 assists as a team. 

The Red Hawks bounced back in their second match of the day, taking control early against Dominican. Ripon cruised to a 25-10 victory in the opening set before extending its lead with a 25-15 win in the second. The Red Hawks completed the sweep with a 25-9 victory in the third set. 

Ripon hit .333 as a team in the victory, finishing with 30 kills and just seven errors. Harren led the way with eight kills on 13 attacks and did not commit an error, hitting .615. Kast added seven kills, while Tranberg recorded six kills and a match-high six service aces. Michaels contributed four kills, while Johnson and Jacobson each added three.

Jacobson directed the Ripon offense with 21 assists while also recording nine digs and two service aces. Carlson once again led the Red Hawks defensively, finishing with 16 digs. Tranberg added nine digs, while freshman Carli Murphy (East Troy, Wis., East Troy HS) recorded six digs and four service aces. 

Ripon will return home Friday, Oct 2, for its next match when the Red Hawks host Midwest Conference opponent Monmouth College. First serve is scheduled for 7pm.