Rise Host Regular-Season Finale against Omaha on Mother's Day
Published on May 8, 2024 under Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Grand Rapids Rise News Release
Grand Rapids Rise celebration
(Grand Rapids Rise, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo)
This Week's Match
RISE (11-12) vs. Omaha Supernovas (15-7) // Sun., May 12 // 5:30 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
Listen: 96.1 The Game at 5:15 p.m.
Watch: CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m.
Season Series: 0-3 Overall, 0-1 Home. Fourth of four meetings overall, second of two at Van Andel Arena
Noteworthy: Grand Rapids and Omaha square off in the final match of the 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation inaugural regular season. Both teams have already clinched a postseason berth in the four-team Pro Volleyball Federation Championship happening May 15-18 in Omaha, Nebraska, at the CHI Health Center. The Rise snapped a three-match losing streak on Sunday by sweeping the San Diego Mojo. The Supernovas have won three straight and will host the Columbus Fury on Thursday, May 9, in their regular-season finale before coming to Grand Rapids. This will be the third Grand Rapids' match (second at Van Andel Arena) being broadcast nationally by CBS Sports Network.
Omaha Bound: With a 3-0 win over the Mojo on May 5, the Rise clinched a postseason berth next week in Omaha. Seeding for the final two spots has yet to be decided. Grand Rapids could end up as the No. 3 seed and face the Supernovas twice in four days, or slot in as the No. 4 seed and go up against the top-seeded Atlanta Vibe, whom they've defeated twice in four tries.
San Diego earned the final postseason spot on Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over the Fury. The Mojo will be the No. 3 seed in the playoffs if they win either of their last two regular-season matches against the Orlando Valkyries on Thursday or at Columbus on Saturday. Should San Diego lose both of those contests, the Rise could then step in and take the No. 3 seed with a victory over the Supernovas on Sunday in the regular-season finale.
Heading into the Sunset: After a 17-year career, opposite hitter Emiliya Dimitrova is retiring from professional volleyball at the end of this season. The Rise captain currently leads the League in kills per set (4.31) and is second in points per set (4.81). Dimitrova made her pro debut in 2007 with Slavia Sofia in Bulgaria when she was 16 years old. She had played for 13 different club teams in six countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, Romania, Japan, and France) before coming to the United States in 2023. In her future endeavors, she aims to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher while expanding her family in Bulgaria with her husband, Rise assistant coach Denis Dimitrov.
Motherly Instincts: After playing on St. Patrick's Day on March 17, Grand Rapids will take to the court Sunday on a second public holiday this season: Mother's Day. Rise players Dimitrova and Holland, Michigan, native Alyssa Jensen are both mothers with young daughters. Rise head coach Cathy George has two sons, T.J. and Conner, who are both Michigan State graduates.
Dig Dug High Score: Four Rise players have a realistic opportunity to finish the regular season with the most digs on the team. At the start of April, libero Sarah Sponcil looked like she was going to have the most by a landslide. But, since then, Camila Gómez has taken over the starting libero duties over the last nine matches. That has allowed Claire Chaussee (248), Dimitrova (247), and Ashley Evans (233) to catch up with Sponcil, who now is third on the team with 237 digs.
Set for Success: Rise setter Evans is on the cusp of making history as the first Pro Volleyball Federation player to reach the 1,000-assist plateau. Evans currently leads the League with 960 assists this season (10.91 per set) and is averaging 41.7 assists per match. She recorded a double-double in both matches against San Diego this past weekend with 42 assists and 19 digs on May 4 followed by 34 assists and 11 digs on May 5. Evans has 12 double-doubles this season, which is tied for second most on the team with Dimitrova. Chaussee leads the way with 15 double-doubles this season.
Images from this story
 Grand Rapids Rise celebration (Nicolas Carrillo) |
Pro Volleyball Federation Stories from May 8, 2024
- Match Preview: San Diego Mojo at Orlando Valkyries - San Diego Mojo
- Match Preview: San Diego Mojo at Orlando Supernovas: May 9, 2024 - San Diego Mojo
- Pro Volleyball Federation Launches Mobile App - PVF
- Rise Host Regular-Season Finale against Omaha on Mother's Day - Grand Rapids Rise
- Supernovas Host Fury in Fan Appreciation Night for Home Finale - Omaha Supernovas
- San Diego Mojo Punches Postseason Ticket - San Diego Mojo
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