GALESBURG, Ill. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker on the road Tuesday night in a non-conference match against the Knox College Prairie Fire. Rockford played better in each successive set, including holding a lead late in the third set. Unfortunately, it was the Prairie Fire who closed the match strong and went on to win by final scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-23. Despite the loss, Rockford once again did an outstanding job serving. The Regents had 9 service aces compared to just 4 service errors. Rockford is now averaging 2.28 aces per set, which ranks second in the NACC.
- The Prairie Fire got off to a hot start by scoring the first six points of the match.
- The Regents responded with a 4-0 run of their own and pulled back within two. Della Crain served for three of the four points, including smashing home a service ace.
- Unfortunately, Knox was able to methodically build its lead up to as many as ten points at 20-10.
- Rockford never got any closer than six the rest of the way, dropping the first set 25-18.
- Knox again got off to a fast start in the second set, scoring ten of the first thirteen points and taking an early 10-3 lead.
- The Prairie Fire were able to extend their advantage to as many as 12 points at 22-10.
- Rockford did however make things interesting late, using a 9-2 run to get within five points at 24-19. Three different Regents tallied kills over that span, led by two from Melody Moreno.
- However, Knox scored the final point to win the second set 25-19 and take a 2-0 lead.
- The Regents were finally able to get off to a fast start in the third set. Rockford opened on a 11-6 run, led by two kills each from Della Crain and Melody Moreno.
- With Rockford still holding a 12-9 lead, the Regents scored eight of the next nine points to extend their advantage to 20-10. Della Crain led the offensive attack with 3 kills and a service ace over that span.
- Unfortunately, the Prairie Fire came all the way back and tied the set at 23-23.
- Knox then scored the final two points to win the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
- Della Crain finished with a match-high 12 kills. She also tied for the match-high with 5 aces, 4 digs, 2 blocks and an assist.
- Melody Moreno had 8 kills, 8 digs, 1 block and 1 assist.
- Brynn Atwell and Jasmine Landberg each tied for the match-high with 11 digs.
- Jessica Witkowski tallied a team-high 19 assists. She also had 2 kills, 2 digs and an ace.
