WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women’s volleyball team opened its season with a split, playing to a 2-2 record at the Otterbein/Capital Tournament spanning Friday and Saturday.
The Cards opened day one with a four-set victory over Thomas More College (Ky.), winning by marks of 25-18, 13-25, 25-16, 25-23.
Juniors Liz Palmer and Annie Juenger led the way offensively for Otterbein in the opener, combining for 24 kills on 56 total attempts. Sophomore setter Tabatha Piper dished out 31 assists.
No. 8 ranked Hope College (Mich.) topped Otterbein in straight-sets during the nightcap of day one, winning 25-17, 25-21, 25-14. The Cardinals managed to hit just .082 as a team, with Juenger’s eight kills good enough for a team-high. Junior libero Emily Caldwell came up with a match-best 15 digs on the defensive side.
Sophomore Jenna Grasmeyer paced the Hope attack with 12 kills, and just two errors, on 21 attacks.
Otterbein opened day two with a strong performance against Bethany College (W Va.), earning a straight-set victory of 25-18, 25-21, 25-18. Juenger and senior right-side Kristen Bennett paced the Cardinals attack with a combined 20 kills, with Piper turning in a match-high 28 assists.
The Cardinals concluded their tournament by pushing No. 3 ranked Calvin College (Mich.) to the brink, eventually falling in five sets; 11-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 10-15.
Juenger posted 14 kills while Palmer registered 10 on 23 attempts. Bennett and freshman Maddy Shelley contributed seven and nine kills, respectively, with Piper handing out 40 helpers.
Caldwell came up with 20 digs for Otterbein, while Calvin outside-hitter Lizzie Kamp turned in a match-high 17 kills .
Juenger concluded the weekend with 47 kills, while Piper posted 121 assists over the four outings.
Juenger and Kamp were both selected to the all-tournament team, joining Kristen Gromes (Mount Union), Taylor Cassidy (Bethany), Greer Bratschie (Hope), Shannon Quinn (Capital), Meghan Bowers (Transylvania), and Kelsey Castiglioni (Thomas More).
The Cardinals next host Mount St. Joseph at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening before departing for the Washington University (St. Louis) Tournament next weekend.
