ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team (6-22) was a perfect 2-0 in its first two matches of the Rockford University Invitational. They faced Grace Christian (9-13) in the first match where Rockford went up 2-0 and later went on to win by a final score of 3-1. The Regents got a break between matches and came back and shutout North Central (9-17). Rockford played some of its best volleyball of the season and kept up constant pressure on its opponents throughout the match. They will look to carry that momentum into their final two matches of the season.
Rockford 3 Grace Christian 1
- Brynn Atwell started off the match with an ace and Nicole Eggers registered 3 kills and a block in the Regents first 5 points.
- Nicole Eggers went on to serve for the next 6 points as Rockford would jump out to a 11-6 lead.
- Della Crain and Brynn Atwell recorded aces as they continued to take points, jumping to a stunning 22-9 lead.
- The Regents wouldn't look back, Nicole Eggers getting 2 more kills in their 3 points that got them the first set victory 25-12.
- Jessica Witkowski recorded an ace in the start of the second set, and with Nicole Eggers and Della Crain combining for a strong offensive attack, the score was 9-6.
- Both sides went back and forth until a 5-point Regents run put them even further in the lead 21-12.
- Grace Christian pushed back to score 17 total points, but Rockford sealed the deal 25-17.
- The Regents were ready to take the match in three sets, but in the third set the Tigers would not hold back. They tied the game at 15 after a tough start turned into a run of points for Grace Christian.
- Grace Christian was in a good position to win the set at 23-19, but Rockford charged back, taking the lead very late in the set 25-24.
- The Regents stumbled and the last three points went to Grace Christian, concluding the set and putting the match score at 2-1.
- Set four started off with a huge 6-point lead for Rockford. Melody Moreno scored an ace to help the Regents.
- Grace Christian pulled within one, clawing their way back into the game to challenge the Regents at 14-13.
- Back-to-back aces by Casey Sheetz helped in the final seven of eight points going to Rockford, securing the win and the match 25-17.
Rockford 3 North Central 0
- Nicole Eggers scored the first three points for the Regents with three kills, the score at 3-3.
- It was a tough battle until Rockford went on a huge run to take a lead 17-9, the 17th point for the Regents coming from a Della Crain ace.
- NCU kept up with Rockford from that point on, but could not pull back into the match, Rockford taking the first set 25-18.
- In the third set, Casey Sheetz scored two aces and Della Crain scored one on their way to a huge lead, 18-7.
- North Central put together a couple of four-point runs, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rockford lead, sealing the deal with a Nicole Eggers kill and ace, taking the second set 25-16.
- The Rams started off strong in the third set, taking a 5-2 lead.
- At 9-6, Rockford went on a run, including Brynn Atwell serving an ace, to take their first lead of the set 11-9.
- North Central kept it within three points the entire rest of the way, but never caught up to the Regents. Rockford took the third and final set 25-22, completing the shutout.
Grace Christian
North Central
The RU women's volleyball team will play in two games in a row tomorrow on court 1 at 12pm and 2pm to finish out their season and the RU Invitational.
