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PVF Grand Rapids Rise

Rise Topple Vegas in Five Sets

April 13, 2024 - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
Grand Rapids Rise News Release


Grand Rapids Rise's Symone Abbott on game night
Grand Rapids Rise's Symone Abbott on game night
(Grand Rapids Rise)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A hushed crowd inside Van Andel Arena erupted Saturday night, April 13, when the head referee finally confirmed that the Grand Rapids Rise had secured match point over the Vegas Thrill. Instant relief after a few seconds of anxious waiting, as the Rise prevented the Thrill from completing another reserve sweep in their home venue.

Grand Rapids won the first two sets before dropping the next two. In the race to 15 with the match on the line, the Rise earned its second five-set win of the season by set scores of 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 15-9. In the pivotal fifth set, the Rise strung together seven straight points - a new season high - to put the match out of reach and defeat Vegas for a second time this season.

The Rise also got some revenge since the Thrill had won the previous meeting between the two teams, taking the last three sets in a 3-2 road victory on March 17. Vegas hasn't won a match since then, losing its fifth straight contest on Saturday.

Grand Rapids briefly took control of the opening set with a 5-0 run to pull ahead 13-9. Vegas came back to tie the frame at 15-15 before the Rise used a 3-0 run to get away again. On the Rise's second chance at set point, outside hitter Claire Chaussee delivered her team-leading sixth kill to claim the first set by the minimum, 25-23.

Erika Pritchard and Emiliya Dimitrova also chipped in with four kills each in the first set for Grand Rapids. The Rise came out swinging, with 17 kills and eight errors on 34 swings to open the match (50% kill rate, .265 attacking percentage).

Just like the first set, the Rise took a 15-12 lead into the media timeout. The Rise went into the break on a high after middle blocker Kayla Caffey rejected Hannah Maddux for her second block of the match. Grand Rapids turned back the Thrill four times at the net before Marin Grote ended a lengthy rally with yet another block to give the Rise an 18-15 lead. Vegas fended off three set points before Pritchard clipped a kill off the Thrill block to seal a 25-21 victory.

Caffey finished with a new season high of six blocks in the match.

Vegas avoided getting swept for a third straight match and a sixth time this season by winning the third set 25-20. The Thrill followed that up by jumping out to a 9-3 lead in the fourth set. The Rise got within a point at 22-21 after setter Ashley Evans stepped up with a timely ace. Vegas, however, shut the door with a kill and block from Layne Van Buskirk, along with a set-ending kill from Khat Bell.

Evans became the first Rise player to collect three aces in a single match. The six-year pro also tossed up 53 assists - one shy of her season high - and picked up eight digs.

The Thrill scored the first two points of the fifth set. Caffey responded with a pair of kills, bringing the score to 2-2. Both teams then traded side outs to 6-6, where a kill from Chaussee ignited what eventually turned into a 7-0 run. Former Rise practice player Kenna Sauer finally ended Grote's serving rotation with a kill, but the damage had been done with Grand Rapids now leading 12-7. Sauer finished with six kills, two digs, and a block.

After Vegas spoiled two match points, the Rise eventually got to celebrate after the BOLT6 line judging technology ruled out a Bell attack attempt, 15-9.

Dimitrova and Chaussee led the Rise offensively with 21 and 20 kill, respectively. Chaussee also had 12 digs for her 12th double-double of the season. Chaussee and Dimitrova combined to score eight out of the 15 points in the fifth set.

Notes

Grand Rapids improves to 2-3 in five-set matches with a -5 point differential (60-65).

Rise libero Camila Gómez made her second consecutive start and led the team with 17 digs. She also helped the offense with four assists.

Vegas blocked Grand Rapids 21 times, by far the most blocks against the Rise this season. Five different Thrill players had three or more blocks. Nonetheless, the Rise have now won back-to-back matches that they have had fewer blocks and are now 2-6 on the season when they don't have more blocks than their opponent.

Four Vegas players finished with double digit kills: Bell (16), Maddux (11), Van Buskirk (10) and Berkeley Oblad (10).

The Rise will play again on Tuesday, April 16, at the Atlanta Vibe. It's the second and final time they will play on a Tuesday this season. The Rise won the other Tuesday encounter on March 26, with a 3-1 road victory over the Thrill.

Highlights

Post-Match Interviews

Photo Gallery

Box Score

VG 23 21 25 25 9 - 2

GR 25 25 20 22 15 - 3

Team Leaders

VG: Kills - Khat Bell 16, Hannah Maddux 11, Layne Van Buskirk 10, Berkeley Oblad 10; Assists - Alisha Glass Childress 46; Aces - Van Buskirk 2, Glass Childress 1, Oblad 1; Blocks - Glass Childress 5, Bell 4, Van Buskirk 4, Oblad 4, Maddux 3; Digs - Bell 12, Kylie Murr 12, Glass Childress 9.

GR: Kills - Emiliya Dimitrova 21, Claire Chaussee 20, Kayla Caffey 8; Assists - Ashley Evans 53, Mac Podraza 5, Camila Gómez 4; Aces - Evans 3, Dimitrova 1, Caffey 1; Blocks - Caffey 6, Grote 2, Chaussee 2, Dimitrova 2; Digs - Gómez 17, Chaussee 12, Erika Pritchard 8, Evans 8, Dimitrova 8.

A - 4,396

Record / Next Match

Grand Rapids: 8-8 / Tues., April 16 at Atlanta Vibe, 7 p.m.

Vegas: 5-12 / Wed., April 17 vs. Columbus Fury, 7 p.m. PT




Images from this story

Grand Rapids Rise's Symone Abbott on game night
Grand Rapids Rise's Symone Abbott on game night
   



Pro Volleyball Federation Stories from April 13, 2024


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