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Otterbein University Athletics

Otterbein Cardinals

baum
Photo courtesy of Marvet Hejazin
1
Muskingum MUSK 19-10,6-2 OAC
3
Winner Otterbein OTT 23-5,7-1 OAC
Muskingum MUSK
19-10,6-2 OAC
1
Final
3
Otterbein OTT
23-5,7-1 OAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Muskingum MUSK 25 18 16 20 (1)
Otterbein OTT 23 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

26 for #26: Baum boosts Cardinals to OAC Semifinal win

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Despite dropping the opening set, the Otterbein University volleyball team rallied to win the next three, knocking off Muskingum University in the OAC Tournament Semifinals 3-1. The Cardinals will play for their fourth straight OAC Tournament Championship on Saturday at Marietta.

Emerson Baum dazzled the box score with a career-best 26 kills, hitting .490 for the match. The sophomore also contributed a game-high four total blocks. 

A late lead slipped away from Otterbein in the first set, seeing Muskingum win 25-23. Otterbein immediately answered, breaking out to a 14-7 lead in the second set. Otterbein continued to hold off the Muskies in the second set, as a kill from Baum secured a 25-18 win to tie the match at one set apiece. 

The momentum remained with the hosts in the third set, gaining an early advantage and never looking back. Using a late 5-0 run, Otterbein extended its advantage to 24-15, as Brooke Barb slammed a pair of kills in that stretch. A Muskie point was answered with another kill from Baum to vault the Cardinals to a 25-16 win. 

Tied at 14 in the fourth, a 4-0 Otterbein run put pressure on Muskingum. Chandler Crowell added two kills in the run to inflate the Otterbein advantage. The Cardinals withstood a late run by the visitors, as back to back Muskingum attack errors sent Otterbein to the championship game. 

Senior Olivia Vitaz finished the night with 40 assists and 10 digs. Grace Ganz and Ashley Kefauver continued to be solid in the back row, with Ganz's 16 digs leading the Cardinals. Kefauver added 10 for Otterbein. 

As a team, the Cardinals finished with 12 aces, compared to just two from the Muskies. 

On Saturday, Otterbein will head to the No. 1 seed Marietta for the championship game. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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