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PVF Grand Rapids Rise

Rise Return Home to Face Vibe, Valkyries

March 29, 2024 - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Grand Rapids Rise News Release


Grand Rapids Rise pre-match entrance
Grand Rapids Rise pre-match entrance
(Grand Rapids Rise, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo)

Next Week's Matches

RISE (6-6) vs. Atlanta Vibe (10-4) // Mon., April 1 // 7 p.m. EDT // Van Andel Arena

Listen: 96.1 The Game at 6:45 p.m.

Watch: YouTube at 7 p.m.

Season Series: 2-0 Overall, 1-0 Home. Third of four meetings overall, second of two at Van Andel Arena

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids is the only Pro Volleyball Federation team to beat Atlanta twice this season, as well as the only team the Vibe haven't defeated. Atlanta will host one more match against the San Diego Mojo on Saturday, March 30, before coming to Grand Rapids for the Monday night clash. The Vibe will be starting a stretch with three straight road matches, while the Rise just finished playing three consecutive away contents.

RISE vs. Orlando Valkyries (5-8) // Sat., April 6 // 7 p.m. EDT // Van Andel Arena

Listen: 96.1 The Game at 6:45 p.m.

Watch: CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m.

Season Series: 0-1 Overall, 0-0 Home. Second of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids aims to avenge a 3-1 road loss from March 1. Orlando won by set scores of 20-25, 25-21, 30-32, 25-27. The Valkyries are making their first trip to Grand Rapids. There will be a rematch on April 11 in Orlando, the next match for both teams.

Vibe's Kryptonite: The Atlanta Vibe have beaten every team in the Pro Volleyball Federation except the Rise, who have upended the current League leaders twice - once on the road, 3-1, and once at home, 3-2. Two of the three sets the Rise lost were by the minimum of 25-23. Atlanta is 13-1 in sets decided by two points.

Rise opposite hitter Emiliya Dimitrova had the most kills in a single match against the Vibe this season when she powered down 26 on Feb. 18. Marin Grote's season-high mark of seven blocks also came in that match. The Rise set multiple team records on Feb. 18 that haven't been broken, including kills (72), total attacks (196), and digs (86).

Constructing a Wall: Mostly due to injuries, the middle of the front row for the Rise has been a constant revolving door. Grand Rapids has had to utilize every middle blocker on its roster to play in key situations. One of the recent additions to the starting lineup has been Holland, Michigan, native Alyssa Jensen (nee Garvelink). After only playing one set through the first six Rise matches, Jensen has now played significant minutes in five out of the last six contests with Kayla Caffey and Nia Grant both spending time on short-term injured reserve.

Jensen has made her presence known defensively with 15 blocks in those five matches, including four blocks in three straight matches. She has been rotating court time with Grote, who has been the lone consistent starter in the middle for the Rise this year. Grote has registered a block in every match so far this season and leads the team with 40 rejections. Grand Rapids has had more blocks than its opponent over the last three matches and tied its season high with 15 blocks at Vegas on March 26.

Beware of Late-Match Sets: Jumping out to early set leads has been the standard for the Rise this season, while closing out matches has been a challenge at times. Here is how Grand Rapids has fared across the different sets:

*First Set: 9-3 with a +45 point differential (304-259); *Second Set: 7-5 with a +5 differential (285-280); *Third Set: 4-8 with a -3 point differential (289-292); *Fourth Set: 5-6 with a -10 point differential (267-277); *Fifth Set: 1-2 with a -5 point differential (36-41).

The Rise had won their last five opening sets before losing the first set to Omaha on March 28. At the halfway mark of the regular season, Grand Rapids has a +32 point differential (1,181-1,149) and is 26-24 across all sets played.

Rising to the Occasion: Dimitrova is averaging 24.5 points over her last four matches. This includes 28 points (23 kills, four blocks and an ace) against Columbus on March 20, and 27 points (23 kills, two blocks and two aces) in Omaha on March 28. Adding in the 30 points scored at Orlando on March 1 and 29 points against Atlanta on Feb. 18, Dimitrova now holds the top four spots for the most points scored by a Rise player in a single match.

The 17-year veteran continues to shine when Grand Rapids needs her the most. Dimitrova has converted the most Rise set points this season, closing out eight different frames. Claire Chaussee is second on the team with four set-point conversions.

Road Trip Recap: The Rise completed three road matches in nine days with a tightly contested 3-1 loss at Omaha on Thursday. Grand Rapids went 2-1 during the road stretch and is now 3-4 away from home this season. The Rise have one more segment on their schedule at the end of April with three straight away matches. Grand Rapids will play nine total matches in April, more than any other month, with five of them being on the road at five different venues. Between April 11-20, the Rise will play five matches in 10 days and will alternate between playing at home and on the road during those matches.




Images from this story

Grand Rapids Rise pre-match entrance
Grand Rapids Rise pre-match entrance
(Nicolas Carrillo)		   



Pro Volleyball Federation Stories from March 29, 2024


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