October 27, 2007

Box Score

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Ripon couldn't have scripted a better way to enter the Midwest Conference Tournament than to defeat the regular season conference champion Carroll College. That's just what the Red Hawks did on Saturday, handing the Pioneers their first confernce loss of the season in both team's final match before they enter MWC Tournament play. Ripon dropped the first game, but won the match 29-31, 30-21, 30-24, 30-26.

The Red Hawks had three players record double digit kills. Anna Alvin led the way with 12, while Jeni Yaeger and Ashley Schertz added 11 and 10, respectively. Schertz also recorded seven blocks to go along with three apiece by Yaeger, Alvin and Jessica Chatmon. Mary Friend and Alison Ernst combined for 41 assists, while Amy Patton recorded a team-high four service aces. Sara Heim led the Red Hawks with 22 digs.

Carroll's Barb Peters led everyone with a game-high 15 kills, while Cara Sronce added 10 of her own. Nikole Bohn recorded a game-high 44 assists, while Peters led the team with three service aces. The Pioneers were forced to play defense for much of the game, recorded 128 digs as a team, compared to just 81 for the Red Hawks.

Ripon will now have to go back to Carroll next weekend, as the Pioneers will host the 2007 MWC Tournament. The Red Hawks will face Beloit College in the first round on Nov. 2 at 4:00 p.m. Should they win, they would have a rematch with Carroll at 7:00 p.m. The MWC championship match is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 3.