The Rise end 3-game skid with convincing home win against Columbus

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Rise have broken their three-match losing streak in grand fashion, with a 3-to-1 sets victory at Van Andel Arena against the red-hot Columbus Fury.

The Fury had won four matches in a row. But Grand Rapids came out strong, with a 25-15 win in the first set. But it was a tale of divergent sets, as Columbus came back in the second set with a lopsided 25-13 win. The Rise took a more even third set, 25-17.

"Air Claire" Chaussee was at her high-flying best, racking up 46 attacks and 17 kills. Emiliya Dimitrova took over in the tense final set, as she often does in the clutch. She scored 14 kills. Marin Grote was solid, with 7 point and 4 blocks.

There were several service errors again in this match.

For Columbus, Rainelle Jones was good, and Megan Courtney Lush had 13 kills for Columbus.

On WOOD Radio after the game, Rise Head Coach Cathy George said it was great to get the added energy from the vocal crowd of 5,011.

"Shannon Scully was nails ... she came in at the right time," George said. "The middles were being depleted (by injury - Kayla Caffey and Nia Grant were out). We have a little time this week to recover and get some of these bodies back."

George says they've been working on better hand-to-ball contact to address recent service errors that proved costly in their recent rough spell on the road.

The Vegas Thrill will be in Grand Rapids (4-4 on March 17, at 4 p.m. The broadcast will begin at 3:45pm. The first 1,000 fans in the doors will receive a free St. Patty's Day T-shirt. Columbus (4-3) will play Vegas on Monday night.

SET-BY-SET CAPSULES:

--------------------4th set:

[1:57] After a Fury timeout, Columbus scores to tie the 4th set at 19-19. Each of the first three sets weren't close. But this one is intense. Megan Courtney Lush with a thunderous hit for Columbus ties it at 20-20, but Chaussee knocks the next one down to make it 21-20 Grand Rapids. Dmitrova starting to show her extensive experience, with two power slams to make it 23-21. She was nicely set up on a pass by Shannon Scully. Grand Rapids takes it to match point, 24-22, but the Fury respond with a point by Reagan Cooper. 24-23 now, and the crowd loudly chanting, "Let's Go Rise!". Grand Rapids closes out the match, 25-23, and snaps a three-game losing skid. Dmitrova with a brilliant block at the net to secure the win. Grand Rapids is now 4-4 on the season. They win, 3 sets to 1.

[1:48pm] The Rise with a 3-point run, punctuated by a backrow strike from Chaussee. It's 15-13. Sarah Sponcil with one of her patented, sliding saves a foot off the ground on a Fury shot. The volley continued and then Evans with a sweet, diving save. The Rise laying out all over the court - no one can accuse them of a lack of effort.

[1:38pm] Quite a volley early in the 4th frame. The Fury up, 6-4, but Emiliya Dimitrova with a convincing shot makes it 6-5. Rise coach asks for a review of a shot near the line, but the challenge is lost. The Fury lost a coach's challenge earlier in the match. Claire Chaussee with a nice shot to knot the set at 7-7, but the Fury are working against Ashley Evans, and they take an 11-7 lead. Evans' body angle knocking the ball out of bounds. Grand Rapids takes a time out.

---------------------3rd set: The Rise go up, 2 sets to 1

[1:32pm] The Rise have won the third set, 25-17, after a referee review of a possible net-touch does NOT result in the set-winning point being overturned. The Rise now lead, 2 sets to 1.

All-Big 12 Kansas State product Sydney Bolding with a sweet shot on her first point in the Pro Volleyball League to bring it to set point. She came in a moment ago after Alyssa Jensen went down with what appeared to be a knee injury.

[1:28] Megan Courtney-Lush with a rifle-arm shot for the Fury, and a Rainelle Jones tally pulls them to within six points of the Rise, 20-14. But Marin Grote with a slam on the next play, as the match is getting more and more physical. The Rise now up, 22-16, in the 3rd set.

[1:22] Marin Grote continues to play well, with an acrobatic shot. Emiliya Dimitrova with a sweet kill to expand the Rise's lead to 18-8.

[1:14pm] Nothing close in this set, either. The Rise are out to an 11-4 third-set lead against Columbus. The latest score by Claire Chaussee prompts Columbus coach Angel Perez to take a timeout.

--------------2nd set:

[12:58] A tale of two sets so far at Van Andel Arena. Reagan Cooper, who starred at Kansas, clobbered the ball home for the Fury, which played a furious second set, with a 25-13 score. The Rise won the first set, 25-15. The best-of-five match is now tied at one set apiece.

[12:51] Rainelle Jones with a solid set for the Fury, and they lead 20-11. As much as Grand Rapids dominated the first set, Columbus has controlled the second set.

[12:42] The Fury jump out to an 8-4 lead in the second set. Katy Olson remarked on the radio that the Rise tend to start out matches fast, but need to maintain that momentum later in the contest. Claire Chaussee skies on a nice setup from Ashley Evans, for a Rise point. And then Evans with a spike, and now it's 10-7, Fury.

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[12:30] Abbott has been the standout, so far, for Grand Rapids, but Marin Grote is playing like an All-Star, too. This time with a block/throwdown. "Air Claire" Chaussee with a beautiful block and now it's set point. And Chaussee with another impressive vertical leap smashes home the set-winning point. 25-15.

[12:26] The Fury take their second timeout, as Symone Abbott has taken over this game, so far. Another net touch by the Fury. 20-12, The Rise lead.

[12:21] The Fury making a lot of mistakes. A net violation and Grand Rapids takes a commanding 17-8 first-set lead. Symone Abbott with a smash. Former Nebraska star Kaitlyn Hord responds with a hammer swing for the Fury. Rainelle Jones with another tally for Columbus. 18-10 now, Grand Rapids.

[12:18] Ashley Evans with two blocks in the early going. The Rise with a quick start and a 13-6 lead.

[12:12] The Rise are up in the first set, 9-5, with some good middle-blocking by Grand Rapids. Symone Abbott with the float serve and Marin Grote with a good block and an ace. She came to play today (per usual).

Columbus had come into the game with four straight wins. They lost a match in Grand Rapids on January 25.