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Grand Rapids Rise

Rise Host Rematch with Vibe on Sunday

February 14, 2024 - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Grand Rapids Rise News Release


Emiliya Dimitrova of the Grand Rapids Rise prepares to serve
Emiliya Dimitrova of the Grand Rapids Rise prepares to serve
(Grand Rapids Rise, Credit: Mark Newman)

This Week's Match

RISE vs. Atlanta Vibe // Sun., Feb. 18 // 4 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: 96.1 The Game at 3:45 p.m.

Watch: YouTube at 4 p.m.

Season Series: Second of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena. The Rise won the first match on Feb. 9 in Atlanta, 3-1, by set scores of 25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22.

All-Time Series: 1-0 Overall, 0-0 Home

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids plays an opponent it has already faced for this first time in the franchise's history. The Vibe (4-1 overall) enter the match with the best record in the League and look to avenge their lone loss handed to them by the Rise.

So, We Meet Again: For the third time in this inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation season, two teams will face each other for a second time. Atlanta had the first League rematch on Monday, Feb. 12, when it beat Orlando again to improve to 4-1 overall. The Omaha Supernovas and Vegas Thrill will also have played twice after their upcoming match this Thursday. Vegas won the first affair, 3-2.

In the first meeting between the Rise and Vibe, Grand Rapids won sets one, three, and four on the road to dethrone previously unbeaten Atlanta. The Rise had more kills (54-52), blocks (10-9), aces (4-2), and a better hitting percentage (.237-.213). Three Rise players finished with double-digit kill totals: Symone Abbott (16), Emiliya Dimitrova (13), and Claire Chaussee (12). The team's .424 attack percentage in a 25-22 third set win remains a season high.

Recoup and Reload: The Rise are coming off a four-set marathon loss to the Omaha Supernovas on Monday, Feb. 12. It was the franchise's first loss but was a spectacle for the home crowd. After the Rise won the opening set and kept their streak alive of winning the first set in every match so far this season, the Supernovas fended off 11 set points to take the next two frames 33-31 and 30-28. The second set took 41 minutes from start to finish. The duration of the entire match was two hours and 42 minutes - the second-longest match in Pro Volleyball Federation history despite only going four sets.

Mini Milestones: The following minor individual achievements were eclipsed on Monday against the Omaha Supernovas:

*50 Kills, 150 Attack Attempts: Claire Chaussee *100 Assists: Ashley Evans *50 Digs: Sarah Sponcil *First Double-Double: Symone Abbott and Ashley Evans *First Five-Plus Block Match: Marin Grote *First 20-Plus Dig Match: Sarah Sponcil

Mac's Debut Match: Rise setter Mac Podraza made her first appearance for Grand Rapids in the fourth set against Omaha. She subbed in for starter Ashley Evans, who had tossed up 43 assists and added 10 digs and three blocks. With the Rise trailing 10-4 in the frame, Podraza came in and helped spur on a rally to get Grand Rapids within a point four times at 18-17, 19-18, 20-19, and 21-20. However, the Rise couldn't overtake and extend the match to a fifth set. Podraza finished with nine assists, four digs and a block. Out of the 14 players on the active roster, 11 have now played in at least one set for the Rise.




Images from this story

Emiliya Dimitrova of the Grand Rapids Rise prepares to serve
Emiliya Dimitrova of the Grand Rapids Rise prepares to serve
(Mark Newman)		   

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