NEW CONCORD, Ohio – It was a rather decisive 3-1 victory for the Otterbein volleyball team to kickstart conference play Wednesday night, as the Cardinals broke open an even match in the third set and never looked back.

The Cards beat Muskingum for the fifth time in last six meetings as a result, emerging by official line scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-12, 25-15.
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SET 1: Otterbein took an early match lead with a nice opening stretch, breaking open a 17-16 lead by closing the frame with a pair of 4-0 runs.

SET 2: The Muskies drew even after claiming a narrow second set, which saw locks at 14-14 and 15-15 before the hosts won four points in a row. Otterbein closed back within 22-20 late but ran out of steam.

SET 3: The Cardinals absolutely dominated the third, opening on a 10-2 run and maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the way.

SET 4: Otterbein made sure to leave little doubt in the final outcome. The Cards led just 9-7 before another decisive push, ripping off an 8-0 run midway through the set and never looking back.
 
BOX SCORE NOTABLES:

• Otterbein hit .267 for the match offensively and kept the hosts to just a .072 effort on the other side.
   
• Morgan Hartman (17) and Kennedy Hoffman (16) led all players in kills on the outsides, as Hoffman hit .423 behind a smooth 165-26 line.
   
• Setters Olivia Vitaz and Kailey Mishler split time once again and both rested with 16 assists.
   
• The Cardinals overcame 16 service errors by also launching 10 aces, compared to just three on the home side.
   
• Maddie Mergen added seven kills and a match-high four blocks for Otterbein.

 
FRIDAY FESTIVITIES:

The Cardinals will help launch Roush Auto Rivalry Weekend against Capital on Friday night in the Rike Center, with first serve ready for 6 p.m.