ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Otterbein volleyball team finished off a perfect trip to the Mount Union Invitational Saturday afternoon, taking down The College of Wooster after winning both initial matches on Friday evening.

As a result, the No. 17-ranked Cardinals improve to a clean 4-0 on the young season after winning in a variety of ways. Junior outside hitter Morgan Hartman collected Most Valuable Player honors for the entire event while senior libero Bridget also made the All-Tournament Team.

Friday vs. Alma (W 3-0):

The Cards jumped ahead early and never looked back, holding the Scots to a mere touchdown in the first set (19-4 at one point) and ultimately prevailing by counts of 25-7, 25-21, 25-20.

Otterbein actually trailed 18-15 heading into crunch time of the second frame before rallying to close on  a 10-3 run. The squad then created separation as the final set progressed, clinging to a 21-19 advantage until finding a groove to finish the job.

A balanced hitting attack saw six player with three-plus kills, while Carlie Craycraft shared the setting duties with newcomer Olivia Vitaz. Otterbein hit .212 for the match while Alma finished .000 even.

Friday vs. Carnegie Mellon (W 3-2):

The nightcap against the Tartans, receiving votes in the AVCA preseason national poll, was much tougher and went the distance. In the end, the Cards stayed the course to stand on top 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 17-25, 15-10.

Otterbein turned an 11-10 deficit into a 21-12 lead in the first set, and then unfortunately couldn't quite hold on to a late lead in the second. The Cards were up 23-20, but a pesky CMU team rallied with five-straight points to knot the match.

The Cards regained control in the middle set, breaking open a 9-9 tie and then keeping the Tartans at arm's length down the stretch. The fourth was tied 7-7 from the gate but a 4-0 push gave CMU the lead for good.

The race to 15 points ensued in a winner-take-all fifth, with both sides trading points until Otterbein found breathing room with a mini spurt to 8-5. That was enough to hold on as three-straight miscues by Carnegie Mellon ended the match.

Craycraft went 37-14-5 while fellow All-American Hartman also posted a double-double at matching 17 kills and 17 digs. Amber Greeley added another dozen ropes offensively.

Five players amassed double-digit digs for the Cards, with Bridget Oder leading the way at 26 while Amanda Troyer (12) and Kennedy Hoffman (10) enhanced the effort.

Carnegie Mellon (.150) hit a better percentage than Otterbein (.090) but committed more than twice as many service errors.

Saturday vs. Wooster (W 3-1):

Otterbein once again played from ahead to begin day, controlling Wooster in the opening frame to later settle with victorious counts of 25-15, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20. The Scots overcame an 18-17 deficit in the second set to get on the board… but the Cards regained control despite the temporary setback.

A 10-5 run midway through the third, capped with a blast from Hartman, helped push Otterbein back to a 2- match lead. That momentum was carried into the fourth, where the Cards opened a 13-8 lead before holding off a pesky Wooster club in the final points.

Hoffman matched a career-best 15 kills while Hartman (12) and Greeley (11) were their usual selves. Madison McCoy and Maddie Mergen each added another seven.

Craycraft averaged over eight assists per set while Oder is averaging more than 5.5 digs per set on the young season.

UP NEXT:

Otterbein gets back home to play a key in-region contest with Denison middle of next week, with match time slate for 7 p.m. The Big Red are defending NCAC regular-season champs.