COMEBACK BID FOR WARRIORS COMES UP SHORT AT LAWRENCE TECH

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The Warriors (7-15, 0-9) saw their comeback effort against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils (10-5, 8-1) fall short on Wednesday night. After a slow first two games, the Warriors found their stride in the match's third installment offensively, but the Blue Devils recovered in the fourth game. Attacker Hailee Mancogna led RCU with 14 kills, while back-line players Karli Rohraff and Ashley Horne combined for 29 digs. 

THE RUNDOWN 

FIRST GAME - 13-25 LAWRENCE TECH

• It wasn't an ideal start for the Warriors, as the Blue Devils stormed out to a 13-4 lead to begin the first game thanks to several blocks. The Warriors mixed in a few points during the Blue Devils' run in the way of Alyssa Swanson and Alivia Everitt kills. Still, Lawrence Tech continued to tack on points thanks to kills by Maria Trevino-Nunez. The Warriors earned a few blocks towards the end of the game, but things ended in favor of the hosts

SECOND GAME - 17-25 LAWRENCE TECH

• The Blue Devils didn't show any signs of slowing down on the Warriors in the second game, beginning up 10-3 thanks to a strong attack-defend combination. After going down 11, the Warriors pieced together a 6-1 run with four kills from Mancogna and a kill from Everitt. Lawrence Tech would answer that run with a game-breaking 6-0 run. Despite a late 4-0 run by the Warriors, LTU emerged with two games up on the Warriors heading into the third

THIRD GAME - 25-20 ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN

• After going down 0-2, the Warriors went on their best evening stretch, capturing a 7-2 run behind a trio of Mancogna, Everitt, and Madelyn Geisenhaver to take a 7-4 lead early into the third game. The Warriors continued their push with a block from Audrey Soares and Kourtney Mack. The Blue Devils provided the Warriors with a brief scare with two brief runs to bring the game closer, but RCU got timely points from Everitt and Soares to seal the third game and keep the Warriors in it

FOURTH GAME - 20-25 LAWRENCE TECH

• The Warriors built on the third game's momentum with a robust attacking effort, as Macogna continued her impressive night behind sets from Mackenzie Keefer. RCU and LTU traded points throughout the first half of the game, with RCU maintaining a slight advantage thanks to strong play from Mack and Soares. At the 11-11 mark, the game flipped in favor of the Blue Devils after multiple blocks from defender Ellery Cure. A 7-2 Lawrence Tech run put the Warriors at a significant disadvantage heading into the game's final points. Despite kills from Geisenhaver narrowing the margin, the hosts came away with the match victory over RCU 

STAT OF THE GAME

Mancogna's 14 kill-performance in this match is the third time the outside hitter has done so this season. 

UP NEXT

RCU returns home on Friday, Oct. 11 to face off with the Cornerstone Golden Eagles at 7 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Shelley Carroll - RCU Women's Volleyball