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RIPON, Wis. - The Ripon volleyball team couldn't have dreamed of a better start to the 2007 season than what they got Friday in day one of the Early Bird Invitational tournament. The Red Hawks opened the tourney by dominating MSOE, disposing of them in three games. Their second match wasn't so dreamy however. Ripon fell to the hands of Rockford College in match two, taking them to the limit, but losing in five games.
In the first match of the day, Ripon got out to a lead from the outset, winning the first game 30-24, before winning the next two 30-22 and 30-25. Sophomore Christy Looker led the Red Hawks with team-highs of 12 kills and 23 digs. Amy Patton added 19 digs, while also recording five service aces. The Red Hawks were set up beautifully all night, thanks to 17 assists by senior Mary Friend, and 15 more from freshman Alison Ernst.
Ripon's second match of the day started out the complete opposite of the first. The Red Hawks fell behind early to the Regents, losing the first two games of the match, but that momentum soon changed to Ripon's favor, thanks, in part, to the play of Ernst, in just her second collegiate game. Ernst finished with 17 digs and a team-high 26 assists, half of which came in the third and fourth games. Ernst also recorded four service aces, but it wasn't enough, as Rockford survived 15-13 in the fifth and final game. Sara Heim finished the match with 25 digs, while Chatmon and Schertz each finished with a team-high nine kills in the losing effort.
The Red Hawks will try to rebound on Saturday in day two of the Early Bird Invitational. They will tangle with Clarke College (IA) at 10:00 a.m., before taking on St. Mary's (MN) in the final match of the tourney at 2:00 p.m.
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