Box Score Plymouth, Ind. – The 7th ranked Raiders defeated the Ancilla College Chargers in just 53 minutes Tuesday night, to stay atop the conference with an 11-1 record (18-2 overall). The Chargers dropped their record to 2-11 in the conference and 9-20 overall… Set scores: 25-9, 25-18, 25-8.
The visitors were firing on all cylinders in the opening set, going ahead 15-2 and cruising to a 25-9 victory. With yet another new starting lineup, Grand Rapids got seven kills from its All-American Outside Hitter, Kendra DeJonge (Rockford, MI), and five from Freshman Middle, Bre Wickerink (Lake Odessa, MI). As a team the Raiders hit .455 with 17 kills against just two errors.
The second set featured another starting lineup and a total of 11 Raiders saw action in a 25-18 victory. DeJonge and Cassidy Schumacher (Grand Haven, MI) each had three kills while Freshman Outside, Dani Johnston (Comstock Park, MI), chipped in with two kills. The Raiders also had three aces in the set, just as they did in the first.
In the final set, the Raiders were again nearly unstoppable. They totaled five aces, 10 kills and two blocks in route to a 25-8 victory. A total of 10 Raiders played in the set with the freshmen leading the way offensively. Outside hitter, Emma Pachulski (Belding, MI), had a set high three kills and a block, while Wickerink and Sarah Baxter (Grand Rapids, MI) each had two kills. Bre also had two of her match high, four blocks in the decisive set.
It was yet another total team effort on the night, as sixteen total Raiders helped in their 12th sweep of the year! DeJonge hit a team high .478 while having a team high 12 kills with just one error. She also had a team high 13 digs and added two aces and a block. Wickerink hit a solid .357 with seven kills while Pachulski and Johnston had five kills each. Libero, Kelsie Schultz (Fruitport, MI), had 11 digs and a team high 3 aces. Setters, Jamie Wellet (Coldwater, MI) and Autumn Severn (New Lothrup, MI) combined for 27 assists and 14 digs.
The Raiders hit the hardwood again, Thursday, October 11th, against the Kellogg Bruins, who are 3-8 in the conference. Just one month earlier, on September 11th, the Raiders beat KCC 25-17, 25-12, 25-22. Match is set for 6:30pm at Northview High School.
Game Notes:
-It was the 22nd sweep in the past 10 seasons over Ancilla College.
-The Raiders in the "Chip Will" era (12 seasons) are now 25-1 against Ancilla, including winners of eight in a row.
-With three new lineups used in the match, the Raiders now have started a different lineup in an impressive 53 of their 71 total sets played. In addition to that, they have started the match with a new lineup in 16 of their 20 matches.
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