MARIETTA, Ohio – Otterbein was forced to overcome early adversity during its third-consecutive road trip Tuesday night, but ultimately met the challenge at Marietta College to remain unbeaten this spring.

The Cardinals, receiving a nice chunk of votes and nearly cracking the AVCA Top 25 National Poll this week, stormed back to claim the opening match in five sets before using that momentum to sweep the rematch. As a result, they improve to 6-0 on the season and within the Ohio Athletic Conference.

MATCH 1: (W 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-5)
Marietta ballooned an early 8-7 score in the first set into a 14-8 advantage and never looked back. A closer second frame saw a total of seven ties before the midway point, before the Pioneers used a 6-1 run to create separation and eventually grab a 2-0 match lead.

Otterbein didn't waver, never trailing in a third set that saw them seize a 14-7 double up. The Cards later stood on top, 18-9, and coasted down the stretch. That momentum carried over into the fourth, where Otterbein opened a 9-4 edge and also never trailed while exchanging points.

The winner-take-all showdown was all Cardinals, who began with four-straight service aces by setter Carlie Craycraft and forced a Pioneer timeout. The stoppage didn't help the home side, as Otterbein quickly pushed the gap to 8-1 before completing the comeback.

Craycraft led the way with a near triple-double of 50 assists, 15 digs and seven aces… all match-highs. Otterbein hit over .350 as a team in the final two sets.

Julia Vermilion, recently named OAC Player of the Week earlier in the day, posted an offensive line of 17-2-42 and .357 hitting percentage while Morgan Hartman added a double-double of 13 kills and 13 digs. Middle Emma Linehan's 11-3-19 (.421) effort was also instrumental.

Defensive specialists Hillary Sterett and Bridget Oder combined for 23 digs in the back, while Sterett demonstrated a Jack-of-all-trades skillset by voluntarily wiping up some sweat on the floor during a "towel timeout" in crunch time.

MATCH 2: (W 25-16, 25-23, 25-22)
The Pioneers were never able to fully regroup after relinquishing that 2-0 lead in the opener, although the second match was still tight throughout. Otterbein pulled away in the first set and settled into and early lead…

Marietta threw its best punch in the second, erupting for a 13-2 lead before the scrappy Cardinals came flying back again. The deficit slowly evaporated, with Otterbein using a 7-1 spurt to seize a 17-16 lead. The Pioneers battled back to a 21-21 deadlock, and then trailed 24-23, but an attacking error gave the set to the visitors.

Otterbein played in front the entire third set, although never very comfortably, clinging to an 18-16 advantage down the stretch. Craycraft rode the hot hand of her roommate Anna Donner, who roped four kills between points 21-24 to help her squad escape.

Donner went 13-3-26 in the rematch while Vermilion (a new double-double machine) registered 18 digs and 11 kills. Craycraft joined her in the fun with 34 helpers and 14 digs. Sterett posted 12 digs and, keeping with the Jack-of-all-trades theme, had a career-high six assists just for fun.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Otterbein will return home and finally play in the Rike Center to conclude this week, hosting Baldwin Wallace for a pair of matches Friday at 6 and 8 p.m.