Box Score
ADA, OHIO – The Otterbein University women’s volleyball team rallied to pick up a victory at Ohio Northern University Wednesday evening, erasing a two-set deficit and eventually prevailing in five by scores of 22-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-7.
The win makes it eight-straight for Otterbein, which now stands at 19-4 on the season and 4-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play. The loss drops the Polar Bears to 11-13 this fall and 2-2 against conference foes.
The win also marks the second-straight victory for Otterbein in the all-time series between the two schools. The Cardinals had never defeated Ohio Northern in the 44 meetings prior to the 2010 season.
Ohio Northern held a 19-11 lead in set one, but the Cardinals stormed back by scoring nine of the next 11 points, closing to within 21-20 after a kill by junior Kristen Bennett.
However, the Polar Bears would eventually hold off Otterbein for a 25-22 set one victory.
The Cardinals hopped out to a 10-6 lead in set two, and remained ahead 18-13 after a kill from freshman Kendel Kellogg.
ONU went on an 8-2 run to assume a 21-20 lead, but a Polar Bear service ace would bring the Cardinals back even at 22-22. Northern then recorded three of the next four points to narrowly take set two 25-22.
Refusing to go away, Otterbein flew to a 10-4 lead in set three and kept its margin comfortable at 21-14 after a kill from sophomore Annie Juenger.
Three consecutive attack errors from Ohio Northern’s Kristen Davidson would end set three, giving Otterbein a 25-16 victory. The Polar Bears hit -.061 in the set.
The Cards continued to hang tough, vaulting to a 9-3 lead in set four before eventually taking a 20-14 advantage off a kill from junior Ally Nagle. Otterbein would ultimately hold off ONU to win 25-20 and force a fifth set.
Otterbein kept the momentum on its side, taking a 9-6 lead to start the decisive set. ONU tallied the next point, only to see the Cards rattle off the final six en route to the 15-7 win.
Bennett, the reigning OAC Player of the Week, tallied a new career-high 18 kills just days after matching her previous career-best of 14.
Nagle and Juenger turned in 12 and 11 kills, respectively, while sophomore Liz Palmer finished with ten.
Kellogg recorded nine kills for the match while freshman setter Tabatha Piper turned in an all-around effort with 48 assists, eight kills, and six digs.
Senior libero Lindsey Russell came up with 30 digs while classmate Renee Willke had ten to go along with an impressive six service aces.
Julia Fuerst and Cenzie Yoder each had 13 kills to lead Ohio Northern.
Otterbein hit .253 for the match as a team while Ohio Northern posted a .153 hitting percentage.
The team returns home to finish out the week, hosting cross-town rival Capital University Saturday afternoon. Starting time from the Rike Center is slated for 11 a.m.
