GRAND RAPIDS RISE 3 at Orlando Valkyries 0
April 11, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Grand Rapids Rise earned redemption. Five days after the Orlando Valkyries secured a five-set road victory in Grand Rapids, the Rise repaid the favor on Thursday night with a 3-0 sweep in Orlando. It was the Valkyries' first home match inside Addition Financial Arena since March 9, following a series of five consecutive road matches.
Grand Rapids spoiled the homecoming by winning in straight sets: 25-23, 25-21, 25-22.
The first Rise sweep since the season-opening 3-0 triumph over the Columbus Fury helped Grand Rapids end a three-match losing skid and secure its first victory over Orlando this season.
The Rise made two notable changes to their starting lineup by giving Camila Gómez her first start at libero and adding middle blocker Kayla Caffey back into the starting rotation. It was Caffey’s first start since the Rise’s fifth match of the season against the Atlanta Vibe on Feb. 18.
The Rise jumped out to a 7-2 lead to begin the match, which forced Orlando into an early timeout. Grand Rapids was up six points, 20-14, following a kill by Erica Pritchard after a lengthy rally. The Valkyries then went on a 4-0 run to close the deficit, and eventually tied the score at 23-23 after Carly Skjodt dropped in an ace. Regrouping after a timeout, the Rise claimed the final two points with Pritchard’s fourth kill and a second block from outside hitter Claire Chaussee, 25-23.
Grand Rapids improved to 10-5 in opening sets and snapped a streak of losing its last four sets that were decided by the minimum of two points. The Rise have struggled to close out tight sets this season, as they entered the match with a 5-14 record in those two-point situations.
The second set also looked like it was going to be decided by a pair of points after Orlando battled back to even score at 18-18, 19-19, and 20-20. The Rise, however, powered ahead with four straight points, including three timely kills from opposite hitter Emiliya Dimitrova. A Valkyries’ serve that went under the net ended up clinching a 25-21 set win for Grand Rapids.
For the fourth time this season, the Rise held a 2-0 lead in a match. Dimitrova led all attackers with 10 kills (.346) and had 10 digs through the first two sets.
The Valkyries had another late surge to tie the third set at 21-21. Once again, the Rise delivered in crunch time. After Pritchard and Chaussee both put down their 10th kill of the match, the Rise found themselves a point away, 24-21. Orlando’s Shaïnah Joseph brushed aside one match point with kill, but then Dimitrova answered with a kill of her own to end the match, 25-22.
Dimitrova (13), Pritchard (10), and Chaussee (10) all finished with double-digit kills. Dimitrova was also busy defensively with 18 digs. Pritchard came one dig shy of a double-double with nine. Gómez anchored the Rise defense, notching 13 digs and two assists. Rise setter Ashley Evans tossed up 36 assists and added three kills.
Notes
- The Rise moved back into third place in the League standings by avenging the April 6 loss against the Valkyries. Grand Rapids is now 4-4 on the road this season.
- For the first time this season, the Rise won a match despite having fewer blocks than their opponent. Orlando finished with eight blocks while Grand Rapids ended with seven. Marin Grote, Chaussee, and Caffey each had two blocks.
- The Rise only had 43 kills (.179), which tied the team mark for the fewest in a match this season, to complete the sweep. Orlando managed just 37 kills (.157) on 127 swings. The Valkyries didn’t have a single player reach double figures in kills.
- Grand Rapids has now beaten four out of the six Pro Volleyball Federation franchises and is only missing wins over the Omaha Supernovas and San Diego Mojo.
GR 25 25 25 — 3
ORL 23 21 22 — 0
Team Leaders
GR: Kills — Emiliya Dimitrova 13, Claire Chaussee 10, Erika Pritchard 10; Assists — Ashley Evans 36, Camila Gómez 2; Aces — Marin Grote 1, Shannon Scully 1, Kayla Caffey 1; Blocks — Grote 2, Chaussee 2, Caffey 2; Digs — Dimitrova 18, Gómez 13, Pritchard 9.
ORL: Kills — Adora Anae 9, Shaïnah Joseph 8, Carly Skjodt 7; Assists — Wilma Rivera 18, Carly Graham 12; Aces — M’Kaela White 1, Anae 1, Skjodt 1; Blocks — Kaz Brown 4, Anae 2; Digs — Anae 18, Georgia Murphy 15, Joseph 14.
Record / Next Match
Grand Rapids: 7-8 / Sat., April 13 vs. Vegas Thrill, 7 p.m.
Orlando: 7-9 / Sun., April 14 vs. San Diego, 3 p.m.
Photo by Allyson Judkins/Orlando Valkyries