Volleyball Meets First Three Conference Opponents

The Ladies volleyball team began their North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) season two weeks ago with a split of NCAC games, a win against Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) and a loss to Hiram College. The Ladies also suffered two non-conference losses. Finally, they fell to Wittenberg University on Tuesday.

On Sept. 20, the Ladies hosted OWU at home in Tomsich Arena. After alternating wins and losses over the first four sets, the Ladies broke to a commanding 7-2 lead at the beginning of the fifth set. The Battling Bishops then came back to tie the score at 8-8, and when the Ladies began to pull ahead once more, the Bishops evened the match again, at 10-10. The Ladies were able to regain their lead, and the match-winning kill by Sierra DeLeon ’14 sealed the 15-11 win of the set, and the 3-2 win of the match. “It was a really competitive game all the way through,” said Maggie Hudson ’16. Amber Kraus ’15 added, “there was a lot of good energy.”

Two days later, the Ladies were not as successful. After winning the first set against Hiram, the Terriers ripped past the Ladies and won the next three sets to clinch the match. The Ladies fell similarly to Marietta College, winning the first set and losing the next three. Still, the Ladies did enjoy individual successes.

The Ladies faced a tough non-conference opponent last Wednesday in Ohio Northern University and lost all three sets, by scores of 25-8, 25-21 and 25-14.  The Polar Bears’ stifling defense proved to be too much for the Ladies, who suffered their second-lowest hitting percentage this year (.063). Scott led the team’s offense with seven kills, while DeLeon swatted six kills of her own. Hannah Shank ’15 led with 18 assists.

After the tough loss to the Polar Bears, the schedule did not let up for the Ladies, as they traveled to Springfield, Ohio to play defending national champion and No. 3 ranked Wittenberg in NCAC play Tuesday night.  The Ladies put up a strong fight, but lost all three sets, by scores of 25-11, 25-12 and 25-14. Hudson said, “It was a tough game, … but we rallied.”

DeLeon and Kaitlyn Power ’15 recorded eight kills against the staunch Tiger defense and Shank again led the team with 17 assists.

The Ladies’ record is now 3-11, and 1-2 within the conference. They look to rebound this Saturday at NCAC rival DePauw University, and their next home game is Oct. 10 against the College of Wooster.