Pritchard’s 10 Kills Help Rise Avenge Recent Loss to Valkyries

After losing to Orlando in a tough five-set match on April 6 at Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Rise felt they missed an opportunity. On Thursday, GRR outside hitter Erika Pritchard went 10-for-30 (33%) in kills to lead her team to a 3-0 sweep on the road.

Pritchard is in her third professional season in her third country. But no matter where she’s stepped on a court as a pro, Pritchard has frequently showed off her big swing.

The Rise (7-8) are now 1-2 against Orlando, and creeping into the discussion for a playoff spot as the season marches on in the second half.

The Valkyries are 7-9, and are still showing inconsistency. Orlando has only managed to win two matches in a row once, and never as many as three. They lie just outside of the top four in this first season for the Pro Volleyball Federation.

Author of three books on sports, Dan Holmes has written more than 5 million words of copy for the Internet. He's the founder of BaseballEgg.com and the network of Egg Media websites. Dan formerly worked for Major League Baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He covers sports media, sports business, and sports betting from Grand Rapids, MI.