Neumeyer, aces power Vikings past Ripon

APPLETON, Wis. — Arianna Neumeyer pounded out 22 kills, and the Lawrence University volleyball team served up 14 aces Saturday to lead the Vikings to a 3-1 Midwest Conference victory over Ripon College at Alexander Gymnasium.

Lawrence won the match 25-23, 25-27, 25-20, 25-15.

Neumeyer, who hit .288 for the match, also picked up four aces and 18 digs for the Vikings (10-12, 5-2 MWC), who have won five straight.

Claire Vinopal added 11 kills for Lawrence with several coming as she pounced on balls just creeping over the net. Rachael Wuensch picked up 10 kills, an ace, two blocks and seven digs.

Rachel Barthel added nine kills, three aces and 12 digs for the Vikings. Lauren Ray led the Vikings with 30 assists and also had four aces and 13 digs. Sydney Nelson added 22 assists, a pair of aces and six digs. Lawrence libero Cyra Bammer had a match-high 28 digs.

The Vikings trailed 22-21 in the opening set before Lawrence got back-to-back kills from Vinopal and Colleen Nowlan to take the lead. A service error tied the match at 23-23, but Nowlan and Neumeyer closed out the set with kills.

The second set was tied at 25-25 when Katie Berrell and Kat Kulas picked up kills to give Ripon (15-7, 4-2) the second set and tie the match.

Lawrence trailed 13-7 in the third set, but Neumeyer served the Vikings back into the set. The Vikings got four consecutive kills on her serve to close to 13-12.

The Vikings finally took the lead for good at 20-19 after a Ripon attack error. Lawrence led 22-20 after a Ripon service error, and the Vikings got kills from Vinopal and Neumeyer to take a 24-20 lead. A Ripon attack error gave Lawrence the set and the Vikings led 2-1.

The Vikings raced out of the gate in the fourth set by scoring the first six points. Lawrence built an 11-1 lead, and Ripon never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way. Neumeyer closed out the set and match with a kill.

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