Madonna University Athletics

LIVONIA, Mich. - Madonna University (7-10) defeated Rochester Christian (Mich.) (5-17) 3-0 in conference volleyball Friday, Oct. 2, in Livonia, winning 25-23, 25-15, 25-18. The Crusaders overcame five-point deficits in the opening set before using seven blocks in the second to take command of the match. Madonna moved to 4-4 in conference play, while Rochester Christian fell to 1-7.

Hope Schriber, Gwen Clifford and Vivian Campbell shared the team lead with eight kills apiece. Schriber hit .615 without an attack error in 13 attempts and added four block assists. Clifford hit .368 and finished with three blocks, while Alyviah Wright contributed six kills, a .417 hitting percentage and five blocks. The balanced attack helped Madonna finish with a 39-31 advantage in kills.

Madonna trailed 12-7 and 15-10 in the first set, then erased an 18-14 deficit with consecutive kills by Clifford, Kem Donnelly, Clifford again and Schriber. The Crusaders took a 22-21 lead on a Kendal Zeiter attack error with Schriber serving, their first advantage since 2-1. Rochester Christian recovered from a 23-21 deficit to tie the set, but Campbell put Madonna at set point with a kill assisted by Rylie Glass. An Alivia Everitt attack error finished the 25-23 win. Madonna recorded 17 kills and hit .300 in the set.

A block by Wright and Donnelly helped Madonna build a 10-4 lead in the second set. Rochester Christian cut the margin to 11-8 and remained within three at 12-9 before the Crusaders scored seven straight points. Campbell and Schriber supplied kills during that stretch, Schriber teamed with Sydney Stonerock for two blocks, and Stonerock capped the run with a kill for a 19-9 lead. Wright's solo block later pushed the advantage to 23-12. Madonna totaled seven blocks in the set and secured a 25-15 victory on a Rochester Christian service error.

The Crusaders answered a 7-4 deficit in the third set with four consecutive points, including a Wright-Clifford block and a Donnelly kill. With Madonna leading 12-11, Campbell delivered two kills during another four-point run that ended with a Donnelly ace. Wright's kill extended the lead to 21-13 before Rochester Christian scored three straight points, including two Mallory Johnson aces. Clifford stopped that rally with a kill and later delivered another for match point at 24-18. A Jade Bates attack error completed the sweep.

Addison Boven directed the offense with 20 assists, and Glass added 12 assists and 11 digs. Lexa Forti led Madonna with 19 digs, while Donnelly contributed 12 digs, four kills and both of the team's service aces. Stonerock added four kills and nine digs. The Crusaders finished with advantages of 62-50 in digs and 10-6 in blocks, hitting .252 while holding Rochester Christian to .040.

The Crusaders are back in action on Wednesday, October 7th as they head to Grand Rapids, Mich. to take on Aquinas College. The match is set to begin at 7:00 PM.