CHICAGO, Ill. – The Ohio Wesleyan volleyball team traveled west to Chicago Saturday morning to close out their regular season with a doubleheader against North Park and Coe. The Battling Bishops secured victories in both matches, winning in straight sets against North Park and prevailing in a five-set battle with Coe. 

The Battling Bishops finish the regular season with a 14-13 record, winning in six of their last seven matches. Their 5-2 mark in conference places the squad third among NCAC competition, securing a spot in the conference tournament. 

GAME ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 3-0 NORTH PARK
In set one, the Red and Black traded points with North Park early, ultimately finding themselves tied at 16. OWU found their groove shortly after, going on a 9-2 run to take the opening set. This theme remained true in the second set, as both sides were deadlocked at 12 before the Bishops mounted a 13-3 run to take a commanding two-set lead. The back-and-forth affair continued in set three, as North Park hoped to push the game to a fourth set. The home squad found themselves in striking distance late, trailing the Bishops 24-22, but the Red and Black proved to be too much, taking the set 25-22 and the game in straight sets. 

Natalie Dieball led the Bishop offense, tallying 10 kills. Jordanne Shannon and Mason Campbell followed closely with nine and seven, respectively. 

OWU notched six service aces, with Abby Nulph accounting for five. Lily Bechina tacked on the other. 

On the defensive side, the Bishops made four blocks. Reagan Brake had three block assists, Jordanne Shannon recorded two. 

The team's top setter was Lily Bechina, who tallied 28 of 34 total assists.

Bella Guzzetta led the defense with 13 digs, joined by Campbell and Dieball with eight apiece. 

GAME TWO: OHIO WESLEYAN 3-2 COE
The Battling Bishops took set one in game two, but would ultimately drop the next two, finding themselves in a deficit. OWU evened the contest with a victory in the fourth set, and their fate was to be determined in a fifth and final set. The Red and Black completed the comeback in the crucial set, winning 15-11 and notching their second victory of the day. 

Coe slowly built a lead in the first set, and led the Bishops 20-17 late. However, the squad rallied back once more, going on a 9-4 run to close out the set. Set two was all Coe, as the Kohawks soared out to a 11-1 lead and never looked back, taking the set 25-17. Coe continued to control the contest, as they built a 19-13 lead over the Bishops and ultimately closed the set 25-17. 

OWU had to find a way to slow down the Kohawk momentum, and they did just that in set four. Both sides were deadlocked at 13, hoping to break through. Moments later, the Red and Black mounted a 12-4 run, and pushed the game to a decisive fifth set. In the determining set the teams continued to showcase their grit, with the set tied 11–11 in the race to 15. The Battling Bishops would string together four crucial points in a row, ultimately taking the set 15-11 and game 3-2. 

Mason Campbell led the offense this time around, with nine kills. Natalie Dieball and Abby Nulph each recorded eight. 

OWU had 13 aces, as Nulph led the way with four. Natalie Dieball and Lily Bechina had three and two, respectively. 

The Bishops made 13 blocks with Reagan Brake and Abby Nulph each tallying five. 

The Red and Black notched 65 digs, with Lexi Manly recording a career-high 14. Avery Krause followed close behind with 12, and Bella Guzzetta had 10. 

UP NEXT
The Bishops will host Kenyon on Tuesday in the NCAC Tournament Quarterfinal. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m. inside Branch Rickey Arena.