Box Score

TIFFIN, Ohio – The 10th-ranked Otterbein University women’s volleyball team earned a thrilling five-set victory at Heidelberg University Friday evening, erasing a two-set deficit to win 15-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-7.

The Cardinals improve to a perfect 5-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with the win, running their overall record to 19-6. Heidelberg, meanwhile, falls to 16-7 overall, 4-2 in league play.

Otterbein, arriving to the match with just 45 minutes on the pregame clock, opened sluggish and fell behind 8-2 early in the opening set.

The Cards gathered themselves out of a timeout, and trailed just 14-9 after a kill from sophomore middle Kim Barker. Heidelberg responded, opening a 19-11 margin before going on to win the opener.

Otterbein head coach Monica McDonald was forced to call another timeout early in set two, and saw her team face its second-straight 19-11 set deficit.

The Cardinals bounced back to win six of the next seven points, prompting a Heidelberg timeout with the hosts ahead 20-17.

With its back against the wall, Otterbein sprinted out to a 7-2 lead in set three before taking a 14-11 lead after a Berg’ setting error.

Heidelberg fought its way back to take a 20-18 advantage, but Otterbein countered to even the set at 22-22. Determined to stay put, the Cardinals rattled off the next three points to take set three, 25-22, and extend the match.

Otterbein carried the rally over to take a 13-8 lead in set four, and fought to stay in front at 15-11 after a kill up the right side from senior Kristen Bennett. Heidelberg rebounded to draw even at 19-19, but Otterbein stayed alive by winning 25-21.

The Cards held an 8-3 lead at the midway point of set five, and used back-to-back service aces from Annie Juenger out of the break to take control and never look back.

“I learned tonight that my team has the ability to respond when our opponent takes away what’s comfortable for us,” McDonald said afterwards. “Our girls stepped up when our initial offensive options were taken away in those first two sets.”

Juenger finished with a match-high 17 kills, followed by 10 a piece from Bennett and junior Liz Palmer.

Setter Tabatha Piper turned in a double-double effort with 42 assists and 10 digs, while defensive specialists Emily Caldwell and Evelyn Carus each had 16 digs.

Otterbein returns to action Tuesday evening, traveling to take on Wilmington College at 7 p.m.