Heidelberg Box Score
Thomas More Box Score
WESTERVILLE, OHIO - Otterbein, now 12-4 on the season, fell in a thrilling five-game match against #11 Heidelberg Saturday afternoon to open OAC play. The team then regrouped to defeat Thomas More (KY) to earn a split on the day.
The Cards came out strong against Heidelberg to take the first game 25-17, but suffered a 25-16 setback in game two.
The Student Princes jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game three, only to see Otterbein come charging back and draw within one, at 23-22. The next four points would see-saw back and forth and the Berg would wind up escaping with a 25-23 victory.
The Cards carried the momentum over to to take game four, 25-22, and went to a fifth and deciding game.
Otterbein hopped out to a quick 4-1 lead, but saw Heidelberg rally back and take a 14-11 advantage. The team found a way to win one point and get the deficit to 14-12, but they would get no closer as the Student Princes earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
Sophomore Ally Nagle, the regning OAC "Player of the Week", did all she could in the losing effort, registering 17 kills and no errors on 26 total attacks. She also had seven digs and five blocks.
Senior Rayna Coleman connected on 14 kills while freshman Annie Juenger had ten kills and 20 digs.
Sophomore Stephanie Buckwald led the way with 23 assists to go along with 13 digs, while fellow setter Lizzy Flynn notched chipped in 18 assists and ten digs.
Junior libero Lindsey Russell led the way with 25 digs while Renee Willke had 12.
Brittany Donelan recorded 25 digs for Heidelberg while Marian Bevington led the way in hitting, tallying 14 kills on 42 opportunities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otterbein regrouped to host Thomas More (KY) at 5:30 p.m., and opened up with a 25-21 victory.
The Saints jumped out to quick lead in game two and led the majority of the way, but, Otterbein slowly but surely fought back and tied the contest at 24-24. Thomas More would stand their ground and eventually play to a 28-26 victory.
The Cards made quick work of game three, winning, 25-16, and finished off the match with a 25-22 win in games four to split on the day.
Coleman turned in an impressive performance in the victory, posting 15 kills and just two errors on 26 attempts, including the last two points in game four to seal the win.
Nagle and sophomore Kristen Bennett had 11 kills each while Russell came up with 36 digs, including 16 in the final game.
Buckwald and Flynn dished out 27 and 23 assists, respectively.
The team next returns to action Wednesday evening, hosting Wooster at 7 p.m. in the Rike Center.
