Box Score

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Otterbein volleyball team remained opened its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) schedule with a five-set victory Tuesday evening on the road, walking away from Muskingum University with a 26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 26-28, 15-8 decision.

The Cardinals, receiving votes in the latest AVCA national poll, improve to 15-1 on the season and will next host cross-town Capital on Friday night to launch rivalry weekend.

Muskingum, a vastly improved team under second-year head coach Hallie Donathan, falls to 12-3 on the season as a result of the loss. The Muskies finished at 15-14 last fall.

Otterbein narrowly dropped the opening set, holding a 17-15 lead before the hosts rattled off a 9-3 run to force set point at 24-20. The Cards didn't waver, fighting back until the Muskies emerged to grab the early lead.

Otterbein responded from there, overcoming a late 21-17 deficit in the second by ending on a staggering 8-1 run and stealing the frame. Three of the final four points were tallied via kills from middle hitter Morgan Lowenkamp, who entered the week ranked third nationally in hitting percentage.

Muskingum held a 10-3 advantage in the third set before the Cardinals stormed back, stringing together a dominant 12-0 run to vault ahead and never trail again. Muskingum clawed to within 18-17 later on, but Otterbein countered with a kill from Alana King-Mendenhall and then held on for a 2-1 match lead.

The Muskies drew even in the fourth with a tight victory, fighting out of a 22-19 hole to win and force some good theatre with a winner-take-all fifth frame.

Otterbein benefited from nine attacking errors by Muskingum in the fifth set, opening a 9-4 lead and costing to victory. The Muskies hit .111 for the match while the Cards were a bit better at a .154 clip.

Lowenkamp led the way with a match-high 20 kills while running mate Hadley Sterett added a double-double of 14 kills and 16 digs on the outside. King-Mendenhall and freshman Emily Shuk contributed 10 each, with King-Mendenhall factoring at the net on four solo blocks and another four assisted.

Setter Andrea Miller, the nation's leader in assists per set (11.45), delivered 34 dimes and 18 assists for yet another double-double. Libero Ashlyn Leon (27) and Hillary Sterett (12) also amassed double-digit digs, with Leon's nine assists falling just shy of a double-double performance.

Brooke and Taylour Fatheree combined for 33 of Muskingum's 57 kills.

Otterbein will be looking to make it two wins this season over Capital, having topped the Crusaders in a three-set, non-conference matchup that lasted just under an hour during opening weekend.