DELAWARE, Ohio – The Cardinal volleyball team got back to its winning ways this weekend by sweeping through a quartet of matches at the nearby Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishop Invitational, hosted Friday and Saturday inside a sweltering Branch Rickey Arena.
 
Day 1: (vs. Franklin and Trine)

Otterbein got back on the court Friday night, returning to action after a challenging stretch at the Emory Classic in Atlanta last weekend and then a three-set exhibition win over Columbus State Comnunity College (ranked No. 3 in NJCAA) during the middle of this past week.

The Cards began with a comfortable 25-15, 25-14, 25-11 triumph against Franklin College (Ind.) as sophomore Emily Shuk delivered a match-high 10 kills. Otterbein pulled away nicely in each set and ultimately received eight kills from freshman Julia Vermilion, who was making her first collegiate start.

Setter Andrea Miller dished out 27 assists as the lineup hit a blistering .352 collectively, while forcing the Grizzlies into a -.054 output. Libero Ashlyn Leon benefited the defense with 15 digs.

Otterbein then turned around to blitz Trine in another straight-set decision, as the Thunder were forced to regroup shortly after dropping a five-set thriller against host OWU on the opposite court.

The Cards won 25-15, 25-12, 25-17 as a team but the night belonged to Miller, who became the school's all-time assists leader on the final point of the second set with No. 3,392 of her college career. She passed former All-American Tabatha Piper, who directed the offense from 2011-13.

"No matter the outcome, I have always tried to give it 110 percent without being told," Miller said. "I have never been concerned with the numbers or the recognition, but just working hard and hoping my teammates see I give it my all. It means a lot that my hard work has paid off and I can use this an another opportunity to push harder."

Otterbein used momentum-changing runs in all three sets, which began by taking an 11-3 edge in the first set and coasting. The Cards were then leading 7-6 in the second game when senior Olivia Harris checked in, and she ignited her squad to a wild 12-0 run to blow things open.

Harris continued her hot serving in the third, entering with the Cards up 10-5 and then spearheading a 7-0 run to pull away once more. She ended the night with a career-best eight service aces, with Otterbein posting 15 as a unit to easily mark a new season-high.

Everyone got into the action for Otterbein, which received eight kills from Shuk and seven from middle Alana King-Mendenhall. Trine hit just .039 on its side of the net.

 
Day 2: (vs. Ohio Wesleyan and Grove City)

Otterbein rolled out of bed and resumed its winning Saturday morning, working past the host Bishops by final line scores of 25-21, 25-20, 22-25 and 25-14. The Cards quickly worked to that 2-0 lead before falling behind in the third game, where Ohio Wesleyan led most of the way and held on to extend the match.

The Cardinals finished the job with a dominant fourth set, and outside Hadley Sterett got back in the groove with 19 kills and a .381 percentage. Miller posted a wicked double-double of 47 assists and 19 digs, King-Mendenhall had 12 kills and Vermilion posted a season-best 11.

Otterbein closed out the weekend with a 25-14, 25-13, 25-19 win over Grove City. The Cards coasted behind a balanced offensive effort with many involved, getting eight kills from freshman Kate Fisher and six from both Emma Linehan and Taylor Belcher. Miller, who earned Most Valuable Player honors, had 10 assists in the opening set before giving way to freshman Dana Wnykoop, who tallied another 19 as the team hit .354.

King-Mendenhall went 6 of 7 in the first set before resting, and also grabbed a spot on the All-Tournament Team. The Cards will be back in action Tuesday night, heading up to Mount Vernon Nazarene at 7p.m.