GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The San Diego Mojo (10-11) was swept by the Grand Rapids Rise (11-12) on Sunday afternoon, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16, at Van Andel Arena.
Willow Johnson led the Mojo scoring effort with seven kills, while Morgan Lewis, Temi Thomas-Ailara and Lindsey Vander Weide had six each. Ronika Stone had a team-high three blocks, August Raskie had a paced San Diego with 21 assists and Shara Venegas had 13 digs.
Grand Rapids started the match strong, jumping to a 4-1 lead, but San Diego stormed back to move ahead, 6-5. The Rise regained their composure and put together a three-point run to go up 8-6, but the Mojo collected four of the next six points to level the match at 10 points each. The lead fluctuated for the remainder of the set, with the Mojo taking advantage of a Rise attacking error to move ahead 15-14. After a Raskie set led to a slide kill by Stone to put San Diego up 17-16, the Rise matched the Mojo point for point before regaining the lead at 21-20. Grand Rapids would not trail for the rest of the set. With the score tied, 23-23, Grand Rapids closed out the frame with a kill and a service ace to win, 25-23.
Set two picked up where the first set left off, with neither side able to take command. The Rise took a 4-2 lead, but the Mojo battled back to take a 6-5 lead when a Vander Weide serve led to a Grand Rapids setting error. The Rise then scored four of the next five points to take a 9-6 lead and force a Mojo time out. San Diego turned the tide and took the lead after a five-point run had the Mojo ahead 13-12. Grand Rapids fought back and retook the lead, 15-13, before San Diego once again tied the score, 16-16. It was all Rise from there, as Grand Rapids scored nine of the next 11 points to take the set, 25-18.
San Diego earned the first point in set three, but Grand Rapids took control of the set early, quickly building a 4-2 lead and cruising to the win from there, courtesy of five Mojo attacking errors and one hitting error, winning the frame, 25-16, and claiming the match in three sets.
The Mojo return to Viejas Arena on Tuesday, May 7 for the final home match of the season against the Columbus Fury at 7 p.m. PT. A San Diego victory over the Fury will clinch the final spot in the PVF playoffs for the Mojo.
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