Volleyball splits 1st day of Texas Two-Step Tournament

(Fort Worth, TX) - The Rochester Christian Women's Volleyball team headed south for four games as part of the Texas Two-Step Tournament down at Texas Wesleyan University. The Warriors entered day 1 with a 3-1 overall record and would take down Louisiana Christian in their first match of the day before falling to Kansas Wesleyan later on in the day. 

GAME 1: RCU 3, LCU 1

The first set between these two teams was tightly contested all the way through, with LCU coming away with a 25-23 win. Kendal Zeiter earned the first kill of the day for RCU, the first of 15 throughout the match. With LCU leading 11-5, Zeiter had another kill, followed by an ace from Ashley Horne and a couple of blocks from Zeiter and Alivia Everitt to spark the Warriors to score seven of the next nine points. With the score tied at 23 later in the set, LCU was able to grab the final pair of points for the win. 

RCU took command of set #2 right from the start as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead following an Alanna Gray service ace. The Warriors kept putting the pressure on LCU, scoring 10 of the next 13 points for the 20-6 lead. Ultimately, RCU would score the final four points of the set with Alivia Everitt and Madelyn Geisenhaver earning a kill each to win 25-9. 

Once again, the Warriors would control set #3 right from the first serve, as they took advantage of four attack errors in a row from the Wildcats to move out to a 10-1 advantage. Karli Rohraff served eight points in a row, as well as earning a service ace. RCU kept their run going as they made it a 21-6 set following a Kendal Zeiter kill. The Wildcats attempted a late comeback but would fall 25-13 as RCU took a 2-1 lead. 

The final set of the match saw much of the same from the Warrior offense, with Kendal Zeiter earning a pair of kills in the first five RCU points. Chante Hudgins and Hailee Mancogna each added a kill in the set, and Ashley Horne served seven points in a row for RCU. Liljana Margiljaj subbed in late and added a pair of kills and back-to-back solo blocks from Hudgins rounded out the match as RCU won the final set 25-11. 

GAME 2: RCU 0, KWU 3

Much like the RCU offense in the final three sets against LCU, the Coyotes started off the first set of this match strong as they picked up a 25-12 win. KWU was up from the start after earning leads of 4-0, 8-1, and 12-3 early on. The two teams battled back and forth in the middle of the set with Kourtney Mack, Kendal Zeiter, and Mackenzie Keefer earning points. Ultimately, the KWU offense was too much in set #1 as they came away with the 25-12 win.

After KWU jumped out to a 5-1 lead, RCU was able to tie it up at 5 following a Hailee Mancogna kill. Both teams kept in close as they traded points back and forth until the Coyotes scored five of seven to give them an 18-15 lead. The Warriors brought it back to within a point after Chante Hudgins and Kendal Zeiter earned kills, but KWU scored the final five points to win 25-19. 

The final set of the day for the Warriors was very similar to the second set, as both teams were tight the majority of the first half of the set. RCU was able to gain an 11-9 lead after Kendal Zeiter, Hailee Mancogna, Alivia Everitt, and Madelyn Geisenhaver all earned points. After the 14-14 tie, KWU scored 11 of the final 14 points to come away with the win. 

TOP PERFORMERS

The offensive leaders on the day were Kendal Zeiter with 23 kills, while Alivia Everitt (23), Madelyn Geisenhaver (14), and Hailee Mancogna (13) all tallied double-digit kills as well. Mackenzie Keefer led the assist department with 52, while Emma Hock added 18. 

The defensive side of the ball for RCU was headed by Alivia Everitt as she totaled 12 blocks on the day, including three solo, while Ashley Horne, Hannah Maynard, and Karli Rohraff each tallied double-digit digs with 19, 15, and 13, respectively.  

UP NEXT

The Warriors will be back in action tomorrow, August 30th, to close out the Texas Two-Step Tournament as they will take on #RV Lindsey Wilson and Huston-Tillotson at 11 AM and 5 PM, respectively.