THATCHER, Ariz. -- The Ridgewater Lady Warriors went 3-4 against top junior college volleyball teams at the Eastern Arizona Invitational held Friday and Saturday.
"We definitely proved we can compete against some of the best," said Ridgewater volleyball coach Joe Sussenguth. "It was very demanding physically and mentally, but overall we competed very well. The experience we gained was outstanding."
Results Friday
Chandler-Gilbert 2, Ridgewater College 1
CGCC, ranked No. 7 in NJCAA Division II, won 30-26, 25-30, 15-11. Brittany TerWisscha had 18 kills, Leah Miller six and Jordan Olerud, Jackie Noyes and Hilary Groothuis posted five each for Ridgewater. Ashley Hennen had 18 digs and Carina Fesenmaier added 23 assists.
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Ridgewater 2, Southern Mountain CC 1
TerWisscha knocked down 10 kills, Olerud, Fesenmaier, Noyes and Groothuis six each, and Miller four. Ashley Hennen got 19 digs and Fesenmaier had 27 assists and four ace serves in a 23-30, 30-15, 15-10 win.
Ridgewater 2, Phoenix 1
Fesenmaier had four kills and 21 set assists and Hennen 17 digs in a 30-19, 17-30, 15-10 win. Groothius led with nine kills, Noyes had seven and Miller and Olerud five each.
Scottsdale CC 2, Ridgewater 0
Another ranked DII college (16th) deflected the Minnesota team's upset bid 30-25, 30-27. Groothuis made seven kills and TerWisscha, Miller and Olerud five each. Fesenmaier got 19 assists, Hennen 21 digs and TerWisshca and Groothuis combined for five ace blocks.
E.Arizona 2, Ridgewater 0
The Lady Warriors lost narrowly, 32-30 and 33-31, to the No. 25 team in Division I. Groothuis made eight kills, Olerud seven and Miller and Noyes five each. Hennen came up with 21 digs and Fesenmaier delivered for points on 22 sets, plus two service aces. Groothuis was credited with two blocks.
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Results Saturday
Yavapai 2, Ridgewater 0
The Division I college dominated at the net 30-16, 30-22. Groothuis had six kills TerWisscha five and Noyes four to go with three blocks. The dig leader was Hennen with 14, while Fesenmaier 20 set assists.
Ridgewater 2, Mesa 1
The Lady Warriors won another close match against a Division II opponent, 32-34, 30-20, 15-11 over Mesa, Ariz..
Individual leaders for the Lady Warriors were Groothius with 12 kills and two blocks, Olerud seven kills and Miller and Noyes five. Fesenmaier got 28 set assist and Hennen 23 digs.
