Tournament Page

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The No.-14 ranked Otterbein University volleyball team opened its season with a two-day sweep, playing to a 4-0 record during the Otterbein/Capital Kick-Off Tournament.

Otterbein, the only team to post a perfect 4-0 record at the event, began Friday with a convincing three-set win over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology by scores of 25-12, 25-13, and 25-12.

Redshirt freshman Maddy Shelley, seeing her first action since suffering a season-ending injury in 2012, turned in a match and career-high 10 kills on 22 attempts. The New Philadelphia product did not commit any errors en route to hitting .455.

Junior Kendel Kellogg was also impressive in posting nine kills and just one error on 18 total attacks, good enough for a .444 hitting percentage. Classmate Tabatha Piper was solid up front at her setter position, dishing out 35 assists to go along with nine digs and five kills.

Otterbein hit .383 in the match compared to a .024 mark for Rose-Hulman.

Trine University made the Cards work a bit more in game two, but Otterbein eventually prevailed in straight-sets by counts of 25-14, 25-21, 25-19. Otterbein trailed 14-12 in the second frame, but found a stride behind the serving of junior Kim Barker to come from behind and take the game.

Senior Annie Juenger led the way offensively with a match-best 15 kills while Piper gave another all-around performance of 33 assists, eight kills, and five digs. Shelley and Kellogg both added seven kills and Barker had six on 16 attempts, including a zero in the error column.

Senior libero Emily Caldwell tallied 15 and 14 digs, respectively, over the initial two matches.

Otterbein was pushed to the limit on Saturday morning, coming from behind to earn a five-set win over Defiance College (25-20, 27-29, 21-25, 25-13, 15-11). Five players tallied double-digit kills for the Cardinals, led by 18 from Juenger and a career-high 17 from Barker.

Piper tallied a triple-double in the contest, posting a new career-best 58 assists to accompany 11 kills and 10 digs. Caldwell had a match-high 28 digs on the back line.

Chelsea Ludeman and Bree Anderson did all they could for Defiance on the outside, combining for 36 of the Yellow Jackets' 47 kills. Setter Alicia Kalik had 43 helpers.

Otterbein concluded the tournament with a 25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15 win over Albion College. Barker, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led the way once again with 14 kills. She finished the event with 44 kills over four matches, and was outstanding in the service game with an impressive 16 aces.

Piper controlled the tempo yet again throughout the Albion match with 40 assists. Sophomore Kasey White contributed a career-high 10 kills in her first action of the young season.

The Cardinals next travel to compete in the Washington & Lee Tournament next weekend, opening Friday against No. 5-ranked Christopher Newport. See the entire schedule buy clicking here.