Ravens Volleyball opened up the 2023 season with a pair of wins on its home court.
The Ravens hosted the Benedictine Quad, defeating the University of Science and Arts Drovers in the opener, then topping the Bethany University Swedes in the nightcap.
Ravens defeat Drovers 3-1
The Ravens started the 2023 campaign in strong fashion, convincingly winning the first set against the Drovers 25-12. The Ravens stormed out to a 13-7 lead to force a USAO timeout, then pushed their lead to 19-8 to force another timeout. The timeouts didn't stop the Ravens as they won the opening set by 13.
USAO answered the Ravens with a win in the second set to level the match, 1-1. The Drovers took a 20-14 lead to force a Ravens timeout, but that seemed to spark a fire under the Ravens. Kelly DeMeulenaere notched two-straight aces and another ace by Mary Pat Taylor got the Ravens to within a pair of points. However, the Drovers went on to win the set 25-21.
The Ravens grabbed control of the match with a 25-20 win in the third set. The Ravens held a 6-point lead at one point before the Drovers got back to within 2 late in the set. But the home side nailed down the 5-point win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth and final set started out close, but a 14-0 run put the Ravens comfortably ahead. In the scoring outburst, Haley Cahill had three aces to help the Ravens get a stranglehold on the match. The Ravens went on to win 25-11, taking the match 3-1.
Regan Bruggeman had a match-high 16 kills to lead the Ravens. She was followed by 11 kills from Sabrina Oncins, 8 from Maura Lickteig and 6 kills each from Taylor and Hokulani Sagapolu. Cahill was strong in the service game, recording 5 aces with Taylor adding 4 aces. Amber Allen had 20 assists, Cahill had 14, and Marissa Mantz added 13 assists. Evelyn Arreola had 15 digs while Sagapolu was the only other Raven in double-digits with 11.
Ravens take down Swedes 3-1
The Ravens jumped on top of the Swedes early in the first set, racing to a 13-6 lead. That ballooned to 20-11 before a short Bethany run pulled the Swedes back to within 6 points. But the Ravens answered to close out the opening set, 25-17.
The Ravens and Swedes battled to a close finish in the second set, with the Ravens coming out on top, 25-23. The home side held the advantage for the majority of the set, but the Swedes fought back to take a 21-20 lead. Caroline Zapata answered with a kill to tie the score, then after a Swedes double-hit, Taylor scored a pair of kills to give the Ravens a 24-22 lead. After the Swedes scored, Maura Lickteig closed things out with a strong kill to put the Ravens up 2-0 in the match.
The Swedes took control of the third set right away, bursting out to a 5-0 lead. While the Ravens battled back to within 1 point a handful of times, the Swedes never relinquished their lead and won the set 25-19.
A 7-0 run helped the Ravens take control of the fourth set against Bethany. A 6-6 tie turned into a 13-6 lead for the Ravens and they cruised to a 25-13 win in the final set to earn the 3-1 victory.
Taylor was the offensive star, notching 17 kills to lead all players. Zapata added 10 kills and Bruggeman had 9. Allen recorded 22 assists and Mantz had 20 for the Ravens.
Next up for the Ravens will be a match at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Kansas Wesleyan. They won't return to their home court until a Sept. 15 tilt against Clarke University.
