ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team fell just short 3-2 in a 5-set thriller with the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks in a Wednesday night NACC showdown. The Scarlet Hawks actually held the advantage in every statistical category including kills (73-44), aces (10-8), blocks (9-4), assists (68-40) and digs (77-73). Despite this, Rockford kept the match close, ultimately forcing a fifth set. Rockford came out hot, winning the first set 25-20, but dropped the next two sets 25-17 and 25-7 to drop into a 2-1 hole. The Regents were able to take the fourth set 26-24, but dropped the final set 15-10, which allowed the Scarlet Hawks to walk away with the 3-2 win.
- Rockford got out to a slight 9-7 lead to open the first set. The Regents got two kills from Madisen Perry and one by Alexx Burton and Leila Cooks during this opening stretch.
- The set was very back-and-forth leading to a 15-15 score. However, Rockford was able to score the next four points in a row to take a 19-15 lead, with two kills from Alexx Burton during the stretch.
- Rockford was able to go on a slight 6-5 run to close out the first set, capped off by a Madisen Perry kill to give the Regents the 25-20 opening set win.
- Rockford again got out to a slight lead to open the set, this time 7-5 after an Ashley Miller kill.
- The set found its way to a 13-9 Rockford lead, but then the Scarlet Hawks went on a 13-0 run to take a commanding 22-13 lead, a lead they would hold onto to take the second set 25-17 and tie up the match at 1-1.
- Illinois Tech continued its momentum into the third set, getting out to a big 14-3 lead to open the set.
- Rockford could not get anything going in the third set and the Scarlet Hawks were in total control, eventually taking the third set convincingly 25-7 to give Illinois Tech the 2-1 match lead.
- Rockford looked to tie the match up, storming out to a 7-2 lead to open the fourth set after an ace by Savannah Crooks.
- The Scarlet Hawks were able to battle back into the set, eventually taking a 14-13 lead, but Rockford was able to muster up a 7-0 spurt to take a 20-14 lead late in the set. The Regents got kills from Jayce Shaw and Alexx Burton as well as two aces from Madisen Perry during the stretch.
- Illinois Tech was able to make it close, scoring the next four points to tie the set at 24, but the Regents were able to get back-to-back kills from Madisen Perry to take the fourth set 26-24 and tie the match up at 2-2.
- The Regents got out to a 3-0 lead to open the final set, but the Scarlet Hawks scored the next five out of six points to take a 6-4 lead.
- Rockford was able to battle to within one after a kill from Amelia Rodriguez made it 11-10, but Illinois Tech was able to score the next four points to take the final set 15-10 and win the match.
- Madisen Perry led the Regents with 14 kills, 3 aces and 16 digs.
- Alexx Burton put up a season-high 13 kills, also picking up 8 digs, 1 assist and 1 ace.
- Leila Cooks provided 17 assists, 12 digs, 3 kills and 1 ace.
- Savannah Crooks had 17 assists, 4 digs and 1 ace.
