RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team (0-6, 0-4 NACC) fell twice on Sunday evening to the first place and undefeated Dominican University Stars (6-0, 4-0 NACC). Rockford has an unbelievably difficult schedule through early portion of its season. The Regents have already played the NACC South leading Dominincan University Stars four times and are next slated to play the two-time defending conference regular season and tournament champions Aurora University Spartans twice next Sunday. However, the tough early competition will no doubt help Rockford continue to improve as the season progresses.
Match 1 (25-17, 25-9, 25-11)
- Rockford gave Dominican all it could handle in the opening set of the first match.
- After falling behind 4-0, the Regents scored three straight points to pull back within one. Della Crain got things started with Rockford's first kill of the match, and Jennifer Quintas followed with a pair of service aces.
- The Stars would eventually build their lead up to as many as five points at 14-9.
- However, Rockford answered right back with a 4-0 run to again make it a one-point game. Jacey Wilson and Della Crain led the offensive attack with one kill each.
- Unfortunately, the Stars responded with a 7-1 run of their own, to take a 21-14 advantage.
- Rockford was unable to get any closer than six the remainder of the way and dropped the first set by a final score of 25-17.
- The Stars continued to build upon their momentum from the end of the first set early on in the second set.
- Dominican scored 15 of the first 20 points to jump out to a commanding 15-5 lead.
- Rockford was able to get back within single-digits on multiple occasions, but it was not enough, as the Regents lost the second set 25-9.
- The third set once again got off to a rocky start with Dominican taking a quick 12-3 advantage.
- After Rockford scored back-to-back points off a Jacey Wilson kill and a Nicole Eggers service ace, the Stars scored the next seven points to grab a 19-5 lead.
- The Regents and Stars traded points the remainder of the way, with Dominican taking the third set 25-11 and the match 3-0.
Match 2 (25-18, 25-13, 25-xx)
- The Regents again played their best volleyball of the match in the first set.
- Rockford came roaring out of the gates, scoring the first three points and grabbing a quick 3-0 lead. Della Crain led the way with a pair of kills, while Alyssa Ashford tallied the first kill of the match.
- However, Dominican quickly erased the Regents' lead with five straight points of its own.
- With the Stars still holding a one-point advantage, Dominican went on a 4-0 run to extend its lead to 10-5.
- Dominican continued to hold a five-point lead until the Regents used a 4-1 run to narrow the gap to just two points it 14-12. Della Crain tallied two kills and Taylor Sagen had one over that stretch.
- Unfortunately, the Stars promptly went on a 7-0 run to take control and eventually won the opening set 25-18.
- The second set got off to a difficult start with Rockford falling behind 5-1.
- Rockford was able to promptly cut the lead in half with two straight points off a Della Crain kill and a Jessica Witkowski service ace.
- However, the Stars answered right back with eight straight points to take a commanding 13-3 lead.
- Unfortunately, Rockford was unable to get any closer than eight points the remainder of the way and dropped the second set by a final score of 25-13.
- Despite being down 2-0, Rockford began the third set by scoring four of the first five points to grab a 4-1 lead.
- The Stars however responded with a 6-1 run of their own to take a 7-5 advantange.
- Rockford then tied the match at 7-7 off a Dominican miscue and an Nicole Eggers kill.
- Unfortunately, the Stars seized control of the set with a 13-3 run to take a 20-10 lead.
- The Regent were unable to threaten the remainder of the way, falling 25-15 and dropping the match in straight sets.
Match 1
Match 2
- Della Crain had her best match of the season on Sunday night. She finished with a season and match-high 13 kills on 32 attack attempts for a .313 hitting percentage.
- Nicole Eggers also had an excellent attacking match. Eggers tallied a season-high 5 kills on 7 attack attempts for a .429 hitting percentage.
- Casey Sheetz led the team with a season-high 10 assists and 7 digs.
The Regents return home next Sunday, March 21 to face the Aurora University Spartans. First serve is set for 2:00 PM in the Seaver Center.
