BEXLEY, Ohio – After nearly 16 months away from varsity competition, the Otterbein volleyball team officially got back to action Tuesday night with a two-match sweep at nearby Capital.

The Cardinals, beginning Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at 2-0, have now won 18 of the last 19 matchups against the cross-town rival. Graduate assistant coach Josie Andres led the team into battle, with head coach Monica Wright currently at home following the birth of her son, Dean.

MATCH 1: (W 25-19, 25-12, 25-18)
Both sides traded points in their long-awaited return to action, seeing 11 early ties leading into a 16-16 deadlock. Otterbein kicked into gear from there, winning three-straight points and ultimately ending the frame on a 9-3 run.

The second set was all Otterbein early, with the Cardinals quickly turning a 5-4 score into a 14-5 lead after three-consecutive kills and a service ace. Capital would never catch back up in what became the most lopsided set of the match.

Otterbein had to earn things in the third, finding itself ahead 18-12 before the Crusaders stormed back with a 5-0 run. The Cardinals admirably responded with four-straight points of their own to solidify the sweep.

Anna Donna, Julia Vermilion and Morgan Hartman (making her college debut) all contributed 11 kills to spearhead a balanced attack. Vermilion tallied a double-double by also coming up with 11 digs.

Setter Carlie Craycraft had 32 assists and senior Hillary Sterett, starting in the libero jersey, posted 12 digs. Capital hit just .068 for the match as a team.

MATCH 2: (W 25-14, 25-7, 25-18)
Otterbein carried its momentum into the rematch, absolutely dominating the first two sets and never looking back. Otterbein took an 8-0 lead in the second set, and then culminated on a 14-2 run. The Crusaders gave their best push in the third, actually taking a 14-13 advantage before Otterbein regrouped to win seven of the next eight points.

Overall, the Cardinals worked a different rotation from the opener and ultimately got a match-high 13 kills from junior Emma Linehan. She finished 13-1-18 for a healthy .667 percentage.

Freshman Anna Cecil registered 11 kills, along with a match-best four blocks, while Hartman added 10 for another double-digit effort. Otterbein hit .387 as a team around the direction of Craycraft and newcomer Kailey Mishler, who shared the setting duties in combining for 34 helpers.

Sterett and Vermilion both had 10 digs on the back line, where Bridget Oder jumped in with libero duties to assist an overall team effort.

UP NEXT:
Otterbein will press on into Friday evening, staying on the road by traveling up to Mount Union for a pair of matches beginning at 6 p.m.