Box Score
Otterbein 3, Ohio Wesleyan 1

by Michaela Alfano '25

Sophomore outside hitter Natalie Dieball (Cincinnati/Lakota East) recorded a team-high 13 kills and junior setter Lily Bechina (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) recorded 26 assists in the match but Otterbein was able to defeat the Bishops on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.

The Bishops won the first set, 25-16, before the Cardinals went on to win the next three, 25-18, 25-18, and 25-21.

Ohio Wesleyan got on the board first with a kill from Dieball, which started her scoring efforts for the night. After being tied at 12-12, the Bishops went on a 6-0 scoring run to take the lead. Bechina added 2 service aces and a block by sophomore outside hitter Jada Colvin (Cleveland/Mayfield) and senior middle blocker Claire Solberg (Huron) in the set win.

The Bishops battled throughout the second set, tying the Cardinals 9 times before the visitors ran away with it. Senior middle blocker Ava Kutilek (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) served up 4 straight points for Ohio Wesleyan in the middle of the set but Otterbein finished with a 8-3 run to seal things off.

To start the third set, Otterbein went up 8-1 before Ohio Wesleyan was able to get the ball rolling. The Cardinals pushed on, with the Bishops being down 10 points during the middle of the set. With the score at 19-9, in favor of the visitors, the Bishops rallied scoring 5 straight off of service from Bechina to close the gap to 22-18 but Otterbein went on to win, going up 2-1.

The fourth set stayed close until the end, with neither team leading by more than 3 at any point until Otterbein got up, 21-17. Kutilek notched a kill and served up 4 points for the Bishops to bring the set within reach but a service ace for the Cardinals secured them the 25-21 set, and a 3-1 win.

Dieball led the Bishops with 13 kills, Solberg added 7, and Kutilek finished with 4. Solberg had 5 blocks and sophomore right side Lindsey Mayor (Groveland, Fla./South Lake) tallied 4.  Junior defensive specialist Bella Guzzetta (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River) had 19 digs.

Box Score