APPLETON, Wis. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team went 1-1 on Saturday including a huge come from behind win in five sets against host Lawrence University. Rockford began the day with a tough loss in straight sets to the Maranatha Baptist University Sabercats. The Regents did not lose any of the three sets by more than three points, but unfortunately, it was the Sabercats who closed each of the sets strong for the 25-22, 25-22, 30-28 win. Fortunately, Rockford was able to rebound and win its afternoon match against Lawrence University. The Regents found themselves down 2-1 after three sets, but rallied over the final two sets to pick up the win. Rockford dominated the Vikings in the fourth and fifth sets, as neither was really ever in doubt. The 21-25, 25-9, 17-25, 25-12, 15-4 win moves the Regents to 3-8 on the season.
Maranatha 3 Rockford 0 (25-22, 25-22, 30-28)
- Rockford jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead to begin the match. Alex Burton had the hot hand over that stretch with a trio of kills.
- The Sabercats answered right back with a 5-0 run to tie the set at 6-6.
- With the match still tied at 10-10, Maranatha used a 9-3 run to take the largest lead thus far for either team.
- The Sabercats would extend their lead to as many as 8 points at 23-15, before holding on to win the opening set 25-22.
- The second set was perhaps the closest set that Rockford has played the entire season. The first 43 points were played within a 3-point range, as Rockford held the largest lead for either team at 2 points.
- With the Regents leading by a single point at 22-21, Maranatha ran off four straight points to win the second set 25-22 and take a 2-0 advantage.
- The third set was also very tight from start to finish. The Regents opened on a 9-5 run to take an early 4-point lead. Four different Regents tallied a kill over that span.
- Rockford would extend its lead to as many as 5 points at 17-12 before Maranatha began to close the gap. The Sabercats promptly scored 5 straight points to knot the third set at 17-17.
- The two schools went back and forth over the next several points, until Rockford had its first of four set points at 25-24. Unfortunately, the Sabercats thwarted all four of them and eventually tied the match for the final time at 28-28.
- Maranatha then scored the final two points to win the set 30-28 and the match 3-0.
Rockford 3 Lawrence 2
- Rockford again jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead to start the match against Lawrence. The Regents' Alex Burton led the way with a pair of kills.
- However, the Vikings responded with a 6-1 run to take their first lead of the set.
- With Rockford now leading 17-16, Lawrence closed on a 9-4 run to capture the opening set and grab a 1-0 lead.
- The Regents absolutely dominated the second set from start to finish. Rockford opened on an 18-2 run and led wire-to-wire.
- The Vikings never really threatened, as Rockford easily won the third set 25-9 and tied the match at 1-1.
- The third set was basically dead even through the first 24 points, with the scored tied 12-12.
- However, the Vikings promptly went on an 8-2 run to gain control of the set.
- Rockford was never able to get any closer than four points the rest of the way, as Lawrence won the set 25-17 and took a 2-1 advantage.
- In a must win situation, the Regents came out and were once again in control of a set from start to finish. Rockford opened on a 13-4 run, including scoring the first 6 points, and never looked back. Five different Regents had a kill, led by three from Della Crain.
- Rockford extended its lead to as many as 13 points and coasted to an easy 25-12 win.
- The fifth and final set was more of the same for the Regents.
- Rockford jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead and never let the Vikings back into the set. Nicole Eggers had a trio of kills and Melody Moreno had a pair of kills.
- After the Vikings cut it to 7-4, Rockford scored the final 8 points to win the set and the match. Della Crain smashed home the final two kills, as Rockford improved to 3-8 this year.
Maranatha
- Della Crain finished with a team-high 12 kills, 6 digs, 4 service aces and 2 blocks.
- Alex Burton added a career-high 10 kills, 5 digs, 2 assists, 2 aces and a block.
- Jessica Witkowski tallied a team-high 25 assists, 11 digs, 2 blocks and an ace.
- Brynn Atwell had a team-high 13 digs, 4 assists and 3 aces.
Lawrence
- Melody Moreno finished with a match-high 11 kills, 12 digs, 2 assists and 2 aces.
- Nicole Eggers added 10 kills, 3 digs, an ace and a block.
- Brynn Atwell tallied a team-high 18 digs, 3 assists and a kill.
- Jessica Witkowski had a match-high 30 assists, 15 digs and a career-high 6 aces.
- Della Crain added 9 kills, 4 digs, 4 aces and 3 blocks.
