MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University women's volleyball team fell in 5 sets on the road at MSOE on Thursday night to conclude its 2024 season. The Regents won the first two sets of the match (25-21, 25-22) but then dropped the final three sets in heartbreaking fashion (25-22, 25-13, 15-9). After tallying 11 and 13 kills respectively in the first two sets, Rockford combined for just 19 kills over the final three. Conversely, MSOE had at least 13 kills in each of the first four sets, before finishing with 9 kills in the fifth and deciding set. The win secures the eighth and final spot in 2024 NACC Tournament for the Raiders.
- Rockford fell behind 3-0 to begin the match.
- The Regents slowly chipped away at the Raiders lead until an Alexx Burton kill and ace gave Rockford its first lead of the night at 11-10.
- With MSOE now leading by two at 17-15, Rockford ran off three straight points, including back-to-back aces by Madisen Perry, to regain the lead at 18-17.
- Rockford never trailed the remainder of the set, including scoring the final three points to take the opening set 25-21.
- The Regents came out on fire in the second set.
- Rockford scored the first five points as a part of a 9-2 run to take a commanding early lead. Amelia Rodriguez, Madisen Perry and Alexx Burton all had a kill for the Regents over that span.
- With Rockford still leading by six at 12-6, MSOE scored the next six points to tie the match.
- Fortunately, Rockford built its advantage back up to as many as five on two different occasions, with the latter coming after a Madisen Perry ace to make it 23-18.
- However, the Raiders made things interesting by scoring the next four points to trim the RU lead all the way down to just one.
- Rockford would respond by scoring the final two points, including a Tamsy Leverton kill, to seal the 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead.
- The third set went back and forth for the first half of the set. There were a total of 7 ties and 6 lead changes over the first 21 points.
- MSOE would eventually build its lead up to as many as six at 22-16.
- Fortunately, Rockford scored the next four points to pull back within two at 22-20. Madisen Perry got things started with a kill.
- Unfortunately, the two schools traded each of the final five points as MSOE took the third set 25-22.
- The first half of the fourth set was also highly competitive. There were a total of 10 ties and 8 lead changes over the first 23 points.
- With the Regents now leading 13-11, MSOE scored the final 14 points to take the set 25-13 and tie the match at 2-2.
- The fifth and deciding set also went back and forth over the opening moments. Rockford scored the first two points and then led again at 3-2 and 5-4.
- However, the Raiders responded with a 5-1 run to take their largest lead thus far in the set at 9-6.
- After a Madisen Perry kill made it 9-7, MSOE ran off the next five points to take a commanding 14-7 advantage.
- Although Rockford scored the next two points, MSOE recorded the final point of the day to win the fifth set 15-9 and the match 3-2.
