Box Score WESTERVILLE, Ohio – In their last regular season home match of the 2026 season, the No. 14 Otterbein volleyball team hosted the John Carroll Blue Streaks at the Rike Center on Wednesday night. The hosts defeated the Blue Streaks in four sets.
 
In set one, the teams went point for point, until an Otterbein run forced a JCU time out at 11-11. Following this, the Cardinals found their rhythm and took control of the set from there. A late service run from senior Emma Steiger assisted the Otterbein squad in their set one victory, with the Cardinals claiming the opening set, 25-18, thanks to a kill from Chandler Crowell. Swinging at an impressive .333 clip as a team, Otterbein also led in aces, 2-0.
 
Set two began with the visiting Blue Streaks finding their groove and leading strongly at the beginning of the set. Gaining an 11-3 lead against the hosts, JCU forced an Otterbein timeout, with the Cardinals needing to regroup. Following this, Otterbein caught a glimpse of hope in a scoring run but could not battle enough against the John Carroll offense. The Blue Streaks snagged set two 25-20 after leading in all categories.
 
In set three, the Cardinals responded to the set two loss by leading early, stepping up their game on both sides of the ball. Otterbein did not allow a JCU lead the entirety of the third set, with the Cardinals hitting at a .267 clip as a squad. A kill from senior Lexi Scott secured the set three win for Otterbein, 25-21.
 
During the fourth and final set, an immediate service run from senior Makenzie Schellenberger gave the Cardinals a strong lead. Schellenberger, who also tallied her 1,000^th career dig against the Blue Streaks, allowed Otterbein an opening 5-1 lead, ripping two aces off the bat. The Cardinals faltered slightly in the middle of the set, losing their lead and almost allowing a JCU lead. However, the Otterbein squad got back into their rhythm and took off, maintaining control, thanks to a service run from junior Emerson Baum. Baum tallied four aces against the Blue Streaks in this run, bringing the Cardinal lead to 21-15. A block by Scott brought Otterbein to victory, 25-18.
 
Offensively, Scott led the pack with 15 kills, with Crowell right behind her with 14. Senior Elise Adelman tallied 39 assists on the evening as well as an ace, with Baum ripping five aces against JCU. On the defensive side, Schellenberger headed the Cardinals with 23 digs, with senior libero Ashley Kefauver following close behind with 17.
 
The Cardinals will return to action in their last regular season game on Friday when they travel up to Delaware to take on the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops. First serve is set for 7 p.m.