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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Otterbein University rebounded nicely over the weekend from a recent skid by sweeping all four outings at the Carnegie Mellon DoubleTree Invitational.
The Cardinals, having entered the week ranked No. 12 in the AVCA national poll, improve to 13-4 on the season with the dominant showing.
Otterbein made quick work of Geneva College (Pa.) to begin the weekend on Friday, winning in straight sets by scores of 25-12, 25-17, 25-17. Senior Annie Juenger posted a double-double, blasting 14 kills and tallying 15 digs on the defensive side. Classmate Emily Caldwell had a match-best 21 digs as the Cards held Geneva to a .093 hitting percentage for the match.
The Cards closed out day one with a four-set triumph over the host Tartans, winning 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22. Setter Tabatha Piper flirted with a triple-double in the bout, recording 49 assists, 17 digs, and seven kills. Caldwell had 26 digs and four players had double-digit kills for Otterbein.
The night belonged to Juenger, however, as the Cincinnati native led those four players with a season-high 23 kills to surpass 1,000 for her career as a Cardinal. She continues to lead the Ohio Athletic Conference in the category, pushing her season total to 209 over the weekend.
Otterbein cruised to another pair of wins Saturday afternoon, beating Case Western Reserve University and Farmingdale State College in straight sets.
The Cardinals forced Case Western to hit just .061 for the match, and used a group effort on the offensive side as six players had at least five kills. Juniors Kendel Kellogg and Kim Barker led the team with eight and seven, respectively.
Otterbein stifled Farmingdale State's offensive attack as well as the Rams finished the match hitting -.052. Sophomore Krystin Estes and freshman Carly Culbertson combined for 15 kills as head coach Monica McDonald was able to rest most of her regulars.
The team will return to action with a pair of mid-week matches at home, hosting Kenyon College Wednesday evening and Mount Vernon Nazarene the following night. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Rike Center.
