October 19, 2007

Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - After the first game of Saturday's match against Beloit College, the Buccaneers looked like they were going to run away with the match. That was not the case however, as the Red Hawks took them to the limit, only to come just short of the come from behind victory. Beloit was victorious in five games, 30-15, 30-25, 31-33, 28-30, 19-17.

After getting their score doubled in the first game and losing the second game by five points, the Ripon (12-11, 5-2) buckled down to win the third game by outscoring Beloit 8-3 to win the game by two. Ripon continued that momentum in the fourth game, getting out to their biggest lead of six points midway through the game. The Buccaneers (14-13, 5-2) slowly chipped away at that lead, eventually taking a 28-26 lead and causing Ripon to take a timeout. The Red Hawks then broke their huddle to score the final four points of the game to force a fifth and deciding game.

Things couldn't have started better for the Red Hawks in game number five. The Red Hawks scored the first four points of the game, and eventually took a commanding 10-4 advantage. On a night where no lead was safe, Beloit methodically chipped away again, finally tying the game at 13 apiece. The two teams went back and forth from there, with neither team wanting to lose. The Buccaneers eventually would emerge victorious, scoring the final three points of the match. The win moves Beloit into a third-place tie with the Red Hawks in the Midwest Conference.

Ripon was led by three players with double digit kills. Jeni Yaeger recorded a game-high 18, while Anna Alvin and Jessica Chatmon had 14 and 13, respectively. Alvin and Chatmon also managed five and four blocks, respectively. Ashley Schertz recorded a team-high six blocks, while Alison Ernst and Mary Friend combined for 57 assists. The Red Hawk defense was outstanding all night, as they finished with 160 digs as a team. They were led by Sara Heim, who broke the school record for digs in a single match with 53, besting the old mark of 46, which was set by Heim nearly one year ago. Heim now ranks fourth in career digs at Ripon College with 1,142 in less than two full years of action.

Beloit's attack was spurred by three players (Christine Brown, Katie McCool, and Alli Thomson) with 15 kills apiece. They were set up all night by Caitlin O'Leary, who finished with a game-high 58 assists. Brown also led the Buccaneers in blocks, with eight, while Laura Toth added seven blocks of her own.

The Red Hawks will try to get back to their winning ways on Wednesday, October 24th, when they'll travel to
St. Norbert to play the Green Knights, who currently stand alone in second place with just one conference loss. That game will begin at 7:00 p.m. in De Pere, Wis.