Box Score

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Cardinal volleyball team dropped an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup Tuesday on the road, winning the first set but then losing three-straight at John Carroll University.

Otterbein, falling by final line scores of 25-23, 26-28, 10-25, 14-25, will play a non-conference outing at Denison University on Thursday before having the weekend off to regroup. The team now sits 10-10 on the season and 1-2 within league play.

The Cards started strong, flying out to an 8-3 lead before JCU cut the deficit to 10-8. Ottrbein gathered itself from there, quickly bumping the lead to 15-9 and then hanging on to grab an early cushion.

A close second set saw ties at 5-5, 9-9 and 15-15 until the Cardinals managed to open a couple of two-point advantages down the stretch of the game. Otterbein appeared in line to take a 2-0 match lead by holding a 23-21 lead, but couldn't put the Streaks away as the battle encountered ties at 23, 24, 25 and 26 before JCU emerged.

The hosts carried that momentum over to a lopsided third set, running away to win 25-10 and take control of the match. Otterbein would be unable to regroup, watching John Carroll (10-10, 1-1 OAC) begin the fourth set on a 10-3 run and never look back.

Maddy Shelley led the Cardinals with nine kills, Marie Thornton tallied seven and both Morgan Lowenkamp and Sam Hurzdan chipped in six. Setter Andrea Miller, returning to the lineup after a brief four-match absence (injury), handed out 19 assists for a Cardinal offense that hit .129 compared to .238 for JCU.

Libero Gracie Staten came up with 10 digs, freshman Lauren Tigner finished with a season-high 15, and Miller recorded 10 for a double-double effort.

John Carroll setter Kit O'Shaughnessy guided her team with match-highs of 39 assists and 23 digs, while also chipping in five kills up front. Hitters Leah Switalski, 18 kills, and Sarah Orlandi, 13 kills, helped pace the offensive attack.