Story by Alex Rodriguez, Sports Editor
Grand Rapids just added a new team to the area! The Grand Rapids Rise Professional Women’s Volleyball team has been taking over the city by storm. With games hosted at the Van Andel Arena, most games have been selling out to watch this professional women’s team compete.
This professional women’s team had started their season out hot, with two big wins! Beating out Columbus Fury in a sweep of 3 sets got their season on the right track. With another big win leaving Atlanta Vibe in the dust with a 3-1 win! Unfortunately they took their first loss of the season when facing the Omaha Supernovas, 3-1, but they bounced right back when they took down Atlanta Vibe once more. In a close 5 set thriller they were able to compete and walk away with the victory.
Rise took a short fall when they played in their next matchups against San Diego Mojo losing 3-1, then facing Orlando Valkyries, with another 3-1 loss. They faced up again against the San Diego Mojo, and lost another 5 set battle. In the next 3 games though they went 2 out of 3 beating Columbus Fury twice and taking a close loss against Vegas Thrill. Which they then beat in their next matchup in a 3-1 victory. After a couple more losses against the Supernovas and the Vibe, they played a hard fought game against the Valkyries once more and ended up taking this matchup to 5 sets. Unfortunately the outcome wasn’t one which was successful; they still had played some of the best volleyball to watch.
With still 10 games left in their season, however, it can be confidently said that there is still a lot of volleyball left to be played and although their record holds at 6 wins and 8 losses, this team can flip that quickly. Their hard work and high level of gameplay is shown heavily on the court leading to very exciting matchups regardless of the outcome.
Don’t have much going on for Thursdays and weekends? Well tune in, as of the most recent game, it was the first nationwide televised game they played as well. Don’t want to catch it on tv? Well we’re also in luck because they still play 5 of their 10 games at the Van Andel Arena. Get the tickets early though, because they are going to sell quickly!
The Saint 