WILLMAR, Minn. – The Ridgewater College women's volleyball team faced a tough weekend on the road, dropping straight-set decisions to Rochester Community and Technical College on Friday and Western Technical College on Saturday. The losses drop the Warriors to 1-3 in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) and 3-7 overall, as they continue to search for consistency early in the season.
Yellowjackets defeat Warriors in Convincing 3-0 Win
In Rochester, the Yellowjackets dominated from the opening serve, handing Ridgewater a 25-16, 25-15, 25-15 defeat at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night. Ridgewater struggled offensively, managing just 23 kills on 95 attempts while committing 22 errors, resulting in a dismal .011 hitting clip. The Warriors' serving game showed some spark, with 23 assists and seven aces, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide against RCTC's stifling defense.
Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Jakel led the charge for Ridgewater, exploding for 9 kills while adding a team-high eight digs to keep rallies alive. Freshman middle blocker Kori Bristle contributed five kills and four digs. Setter Johanna Braun, a freshman from Renville County West, orchestrated the offense with 23 assists, but the Warriors couldn't convert enough opportunities.
Other standouts included Martha Steinhagen with three kills and twelve digs, and libero Hannah Magnuson with three digs.
Cavaliers defeat Warriors 3-0 in La Crosse
The momentum didn't carry over to Saturday's noon matchup in La Crosse, Wis., where Western Technical College swept Ridgewater 25-21, 25-19, 25-20. The Cavaliers, playing with home-court energy, limited the Warriors to 43 total points while capitalizing on 100 attack attempts for a .070 team hitting percentage.
Ridgewater put up a stronger fight this time, tallying 27 kills and 25 assists, but 10 errors and just two blocks proved costly. Jakel remained a force, notching 14 kills to go with eight digs in another gritty performance. Bristle stepped up her serving game, delivering a match-high six aces and 10 digs, while also chipping in four kills. Braun again handled the setting duties with poise, dishing out 23 assists to keep the offense flowing.
Eben Overcash added four kills and one block, and Martha Steinhagen contributed four kills, two aces, and six digs. Despite the loss, the Warriors showed improved ball control, with fewer service errors (five total) compared to Friday.
Looking Ahead: Home Opener Offers Reset
These back-to-back sweeps extend Ridgewater's skid to three matches, but the Warriors aren't hanging their heads. With a young roster featuring freshmen like Bristle and Braun making immediate impacts, there's reason for optimism. Jakel's consistent double-digit kills underscore her role as a sophomore leader, while the back row – led by Magnuson and Bristle – is proving scrappy on defense.
Ridgewater returns home for its long-awaited season opener at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Minnesota State Community and Technical College of Fergus Falls. A win there could spark a turnaround as the Warriors aim to climb the MCAC standings.