Blue Devils compete, but fall to Minn. West
Published 9:33 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Riverland outside hitter Ashley Sanderson celebrates a kill in game two of RCC’s match against MInnesota West Wednesday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Riverland Community College volleyball team has been competitive in most of its matches this season, but it still hasn’t found a way to consistently finish them off.
That problem continued as the Blue Devils fell to Minnesota West (3-5 overall, 2-2 MCAC South) in five games by scores of 25-20, 20-25, 25-27, 25-20, 15-7 in Riverland Gym Wednesday.
The Blue Devils (1-10 overall, 1-2 MCAC South) led the fourth game 9-8 and they were within 19-18 before the Lady Jays pulled away. In the fifth game, MW jumped out to a 3-0 lead and RCC couldn’t catch up.

Riverland’s Alisa Rudiger spikes in game one against Minnesota West Wednesday night at RCC. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s really frustrating as a team,” said RCC setter Cortney Perrin, who finished with 29 set assists. “We’ve been playing together for a long time, but not together enough to finish it. Our problem has been finishing it.”
The Blue Devils showed their potential in game four, which went back and fourth all of the way through. Perrin gave RCC a boost when she tapped in a kill to put RCC up 25-24 and she added another kill to end the game at 27-25.
The Blue Devils showed a lot of drive throughout the night as they hit the court with reckless abandonment.
“The drive comes from everybody digging deep in order to win it. You’ve got to want it to win it,” Perrin, who is from Osage, Iowa, said. “I’m very proud of my teammates. Sometimes we hang our heads which is hard for the rest of us other to see, but we pick each other up when we can.”
RCC libero Becca Kopp, who is from Elk Mound, Wis., finished with 22 digs.
“I thought Becca played a great defensive game,” RCC head coach Michelle Hoogers said. “We showed a lot of enthusiasm, we’ve just got to get over that hump and finish.”
RCC stats: Ashley Sanderson, 7 kills; Becca Kopp, 22 digs; Emily Blanchard, 4 ace serves, 2 blocks; Cortney Perrin, 29 set assists