Rockford, Ill. -- The Raider volleyball team, ranked #9 in the NJCAA Division II pre-season poll, began their 2019 campaign with two convincing wins before losing two tough matches in day two of the McHenry Invitational.

The Raiders couldn't have started the season any better with a 25-9 first set win against Harper College (8th ranked in division 3) and ended up winning in four sets, 25-9, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16.  Outsides, Danielle Johnston (Comstock Park, MI) and Annie Holesinger (Rockford, MI) combined for 27 of the teams' 49 total kills. Sophomore, Jasmine Wellet (Coldwater, MI), chipped in with 9 kills, 18 digs and  2 aces.  Libero, Katelynn Kietzman (Lake Odessa, MI) added a team high 22 digs.

Richard & Stratton College gave the Raiders little trouble in the Friday night end cap. GRCC had four players hit at least .400 for the match and they won in three, 25-11, 25-19, 25-22. Holesinger and Johnston again led the Raiders with 19 total kills and just 2 errors.  Freshman Heather Coffman (Hudsonville, MI) was the libero for the match and she racked up a team high 15 digs.  Setter/Right Side, Jamie Rozell (Grand Rapids, MI), contributed with 8 kills and 20 assists.

The Raiders hit just .062 in Saturday morning's match against 4th ranked Kirkwood Community College and fell 17-25, 26-24, 20-25, 22-25.  Johnston had a team high 10 kills while Holesinger had 7.  Coffman led the team again in digs with 21 and Wellet added 17.  Freshman middle, Kylie Oberlin (Fruitport, MI), had a career high 5 blocks in the match.

In the final match of the tournament, the Raiders suffered a tough five set loss to North Iowa Area Community College after nearly coming back from an 0-2 deficit. After dropping the first two sets, the Raiders won the next two convincing 25-17, 25-13, but NIACC responded, winning 15-6 to take the match and stay undefeated on the season. Johnston and Holesinger had 31 of the Raiders 49 kills.  Rozell had 6 kills, 22 assists and 12 digs.

Statistical Leaders for entire tournament:

Kills: Johnston 49, Holesinger 45, Rozell 18, Oberlin 18, Wellet 17, Breanna Wickerink 13
Aces: Oberlin 8, Wellet 6, Kietzman 4, Rozell 4, Lauren Jonker 3
Digs: Coffman 49, Wellet 46, Kietzman 39, Rozell 30, Jamie Wellet 23
Assists: Rozell 74, Wellet 39, Kailey Carmean 22
Blocks: Oberlin 11, Holesinger 9, Rozell 8, Wickerink 7

The Raiders will resume play Thursday, August 29th as they begin conference play at home against Lansing Community College. Admission is just $3 per person. 

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