PVF Grand Rapids Rise

Rise, Mojo Clash Twice with Playoffs on the Line

May 1, 2024 - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Grand Rapids Rise News Release


Grand Rapids Rise outside hitter Shannon Scully
Grand Rapids Rise outside hitter Shannon Scully
(Grand Rapids Rise, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo/Rise)

This Week's Matches

RISE (10-11) vs. San Diego Mojo (9-10) // Sat., May 4 // 5 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

RISE vs. San Diego Mojo // Sun., May 5 // 4 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: 96.1 The Game at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday

Watch: WXSP-TV and YouTube at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and YouTube at 4 p.m. on Sunday

Season Series: 0-2 Overall, 0-0 Home. Last two of four meetings overall, first two matches at Van Andel Arena

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids and San Diego will each play two matches in two days for the first time this season. The Rise clinch a playoff spot if they win both home contests and Columbus loses at Atlanta on May 2 or at home against Omaha on May 4. San Diego is 4-2 in its last six matches with wins over Orlando (twice), Omaha, and Columbus. The first meeting between the Rise and Mojo on Feb. 23 featured four two-point sets, including a Pro Volleyball Federation record 70-point set, as San Diego prevailed 36-34, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23. It was also the first win in franchise history for the Mojo. San Diego outlasted Grand Rapids, 3-2, in the rematch on March 4 by set scores of 25-16, 19-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-9. Despite starting the season 2-6, the Mojo currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot.

Playoff Push: With two weeks left in the regular season, the Rise are closing in on securing a postseason berth. The top four Pro Volleyball Federation teams will make the playoffs, with the Atlanta Vibe already claiming the No. 1 seed. The Rise have a magic number of one (win) over seventh-place Vegas and sixth-place Orlando, and four over fifth-place Columbus. The magic number decreases by one every time Grand Rapids wins or that opponent loses. When the magic number reaches zero, that team can no longer overtake the Rise in the standings. (All magic numbers include one extra win, to avoid a tiebreaker.) Therefore, Grand Rapids needs three out the seven teams to reach zero to make the playoffs. The magic number table can be viewed below:

In the simplest terms, the Rise control their own destiny with three home matches left but another slip up could open the door for other teams to swoop in. Three straight wins would clinch a playoff spot, and two wins would be enough if Columbus doesn't win out and San Diego doesn't finish 4-1 down the stretch. The Rise will have to rely on other teams losing if they only pick up one more win or no wins.

Coming Down the Homestretch: The Rise close out the regular season with a trio of matches inside Van Andel Arena after playing three consecutive road contests. Grand Rapids went 1-2 during the away stretch with a late-night win over Vegas (3-1), and a pair of losses this past weekend at Omaha (2-3) and Columbus (0-3) - the first time the Rise have been swept this season.

The Rise are 5-4 at home, averaging a .227 attack percentage (.219 on the road), 69.9 digs (67.7), 10.8 blocks (9.1), and 3.2 aces (3) per match. Grand Rapids has won its last two home matches, with the last loss coming on April 6 against Orlando. The Rise have only won two more sets on the road (23-21) despite playing three more away matches.

Backup Power Generators: Rise opposite hitter Emiliya Dimitrova has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury suffered April 20 at Vegas. While eagerly awaiting her return, Grand Rapids has had to generate offense in other ways. Rookie opposite hitter Morgahn Fingall chipped in with 15 kills over the two matches, while Claire Chaussee had a season-high 24 kills at Omaha. Defensive specialist Sarah Sponcil has also seen more action by subbing in to play the back row a few times to give Fingall a breather.

Mini Milestones Tracker: The following achievements were accomplished in the April 28 match against the Columbus Fury:

Mac Podraza: First professional start;

Ashley Evans: 200 digs and 100 attack attempts this season;

Chaussee: 1,000th attack attempt this season.

Searching for Sweeps: Since sweeping the Fury in the season opener on Jan. 25, the Rise had only played in four and five set-matches. That changed April 11 in Orlando, as the Rise secured their second 3-0 victory of the season.

Sweeps have been uncommon for the entire League with 20 happening in the 70 matches played so far (28.6%). There have been 32 four-set matches (45.7%) and 18 five-set matches (25.7%).

Securing 3-0 wins could play an important role at the end of season as it's the second League standings tiebreaker after head-to-head results. Atlanta leads the way with nine, followed by Omaha (three), Grand Rapids (two), Vegas (two), and Columbus (two). Orlando and San Diego each have one sweep so far this season.




Images from this story

Grand Rapids Rise outside hitter Shannon Scully
Grand Rapids Rise outside hitter Shannon Scully
(Nicolas Carrillo/Rise)		   



Pro Volleyball Federation Stories from May 1, 2024


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