Volleyball finishes 3-1 at Emileigh Jo Cooper Memorial Classic

RIO GRANDE, Ohio (September 2, 2023) – The Milligan University volleyball team closed its run at the Emileigh Jo Cooper Memorial Classic with a five-set loss to host Rio Grande and a 3-0 victory over Point Park on Saturday.

The Buffs went 3-1 over the weekend and move to 5-3 on the season.

Game 1 – Rio Grande 3, Milligan 2 (25-23, 18-25, 29-27, 20-25, 15-11)

The Buffs dispatched Rio Grande 3-0 last week at Milligan Mountain Madness but the Red Storm got even with a five-set triumph at home. Two of the three sets that Rio Grande won were by two points. Milligan led 8-4 in the fifth set but the Red Storm battled back and won eight of the final 10 points to clinch the win.

Shelby Miller paced Milligan with 15 kills at a .225 hitting percentage and four total blocks. Ella Maiden had 11 kills and five total blocks. Kolbie Greene had 40 assists and 13 digs. Zoe Larkins had 19 digs. Greyson Stevens had seven kills and five blocks. Riley Brinn and Rachel Falin had 12 digs apiece.

Game 2 – Milligan 3, Point Park 0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-19)

The Buffs held off late charges by the Pioneers in each of the first two sets to go ahead 2-0. Milligan raced out to a 14-4 lead in the third set and never trailed as the Buffs took the 3-0 victory.

The Buffs hit .257 as a team with 44 kills and 15 errors in the three-set match.

Maiden led Milligan with 13 kills and five total blocks. Miller added 11 kills. Greene had 39 assists in three sets and 10 digs. Brinn had 12 digs to lead Milligan's back line.

The Buffs take on local NCAA Division II opponents King and Lees-McCrae on Friday before starting conference play next Saturday.