Firebirds Volleyball Suffers Two Losses in Final Day of Grand Rapids Classic

ALLENDALE, MI - Freshman Jazmin Rogers (Mechanical Engineering - Tucson, AZ/Palo Verde HS) led the Firebirds with 20 kills for the day, but the University of the District of Columbia suffered two more losses in the final day of the Grand Rapids Classic hosted by Grand Valley State.

District of Columbia (2-5) was first swept, 3-0 by Wisconsin-Parkside and then fell by a 3-1 verdict to Notre Dame Ohio. The Firebirds were 0-4 in the two-day Grand Rapids Classic.

District of Columbia vs. Wisconsin-Parkside

Rogers led the Firebirds with six kills and junior Julia Lynch (Art - Spring Creek, NV/Spring Creek, HS) and senior Vanessa Garley (Business Marketing - Rio Rancho, NM/Rio Rancho HS) added five kills apiece, but Wisconsin-Parkside ran away with a 3-0 victory by scores of 25-15, 25-11, 25-19.

Lynch and Rogers also led the team defensively with nine and eight digs, respectively. However, District of Columbia had no answer for Parkside's Kendyl Danelski (12 kills, .611 hitting pct.) and Bridget Nickel (11 kills). Parkside hit .299 as a team.

District of Columbia vs. Notre Dame Ohio

Rogers posted a double-double with 14 kills and 18 digs, both team-highs, but the Firebirds lost a competitve match to Notre Dame Ohio by a 3-1 verdict. The set scores were 25-21, 21-25, 25-17 and 25-11.

Garley added 11 kills while freshman Cherakye Lopez (Business - Lynchburg, VA/Timberlake Christian School)  and Lynch helped defensively with nine and seven digs, respectively.

The Firebirds are back in action on Tues., Sept. 11 as they visit Bowie State for a non-conference match at 6 p.m. District of Columbia defeated the Bulldogs, 3-0 on Sept. 1 during the Firebird Volleyball Classic.