By Grace Malec, Sports Editor
The Grand Rapids Rise Huddles During a Timeout – Photo by Nicolas Carillo/Grand Rapids Rise
The newly founded Grand Rapids Rise, a women’s volleyball team in the Professional Volleyball Federation playing at the Van Andel Arena is back for another season of play. Hosting their first home match on Jan. 12 against the Omaha Supernovas, the team has already faced a difficult start to the season with only four games played.
During their first home matchup against the Omaha Supernovas, the team lost 3-0 with a close 22-25 set score in the team’s third set. With one win in four games played this season, the team had their work cut out for them.
After making it to the postseason in their inaugural first season, the bar is high for the team to meet the expectations of their fans. During their first home match, they faced a sold-out crowd of 8,706 in the Van Andel Arena, their second sellout in franchise history. Rise opposite hitter Sherridan Atkinson said, “It’s never enjoyable to lose, but I think our fans were itching and clawing to get behind us, to rally with us when we did take the lead a few times. You could hear them just roaring, which I love.”
The Rise lost their first game of the season in Las Vegas against the Vegas thrill before coming home to Grand Rapids. “That is something to remind ourselves, that you know you’re two points away from either everything feeling amazing or everything feeling a little bit scary,” Carli Snyder, an outside hitter for the Rise said. Noting how close the team is to finding victory.
During their time in Atlanta on Jan. 19, the team was finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel with such a rocky start to their season. As the Rise took on the Atlanta Vibe in an away match, they completed a successful sweep against the Vibe, taking the match 3-0.
With a long season ahead, the Rise has plenty of time to prove themselves and to work out any difficulties they have faced already. Being ranked second to last in the league, ranking only above the Columbus Fury, they are ready to rise above their challenges and are finding their rhythm as the season progresses. Symone Abott, an outside hitter for the Rise said, “One lineup that works in the beginning of the season is never going to be the same at the end of the season,” noting how the team is remaining flexible and taking on the changes that they know will allow them to succeed this season against tough opponents.
After a rough start to the season, the Grand Rapids Rise has many opportunities remaining throughout the remainder of their long season to rise above the challenges they have faced. The team returns to the court on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Van Andel Arena, with the opening serve scheduled for 7 p.m. as they take on the Orlando Valkyries.
Rise Opposite Hitter, #1 Sherridan Atkinson – Photo by Nicolas Carillo/Grand Rapids Rise
The Saint 