DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University volleyball team faced a doubleheader on day two of the NCAC/MIAA Crossover at Branch Rickey Arena Saturday morning against No. 3 Hope and Calvin. The Battling Bishops would drop both games, falling to Hope 3-0 and Calvin 3-1.
OWU falls to 3-3 on the season.
GAME ONE: HOPE 3-0 OHIO WESLEYAN
The Battling Bishops fought hard to defend their home court, as set one was side-by-side at 16, but Hope would gain momentum shortly after to take a 25-19 set win.
OWU continued the strong fight in set two, taking a 19-18 lead before Hope strung together a few crucial kills to finish the set 25-21. Hope would take an early 8-7 lead in set three, and carry it to a 25-17 closing set.
The Bishops were led by
Jordanne Shannon with six kills, followed by
Natalie Dieball and
Reagan Brake with five and four respectively.
Lily Bechina was the leading setter with 20 of the team's 22 assists.
On the defensive side, the Bishops would finish with six blocks.
Abby Nulph led the way with three, followed by Bechina and Brake with two each.
Ohio Wesleyan recorded 40 digs, with
Bella Guzzetta tallying a team-high 12. Dieball contributed with seven and Bechina five.
GAME TWO: CALVIN 3-1 OHIO WESLEYAN
OWU looked to bounce back against Calvin in game two. Set one was all Calvin, as they took a 17-7 lead and never looked back, finishing the set 25-14.
Set two was a back-and-forth contest between the Bishops and Knights, but OWU would prevail 32-30. Calvin recovered in set three, taking a commanding 25-13 win.
The Bishops would get out to an early 5-0 lead in set four, but Calvin continued to fight back and would close the set and game 25-23.
OWU was led by
Mason Campbell with 13 kills. Dieball and Shannon both tallied eight.
The Battling Bishops totaled five aces, two from both Bechina and Dieball, and one from
Jenna Ashbrook.
A total of seven blocks were tallied by the Bishops, with Nulph leading the charge at five.
Bechina was the leading setter for game two as well, as she accounted for 31 of the team's 39 assists.
OWU would tally 37 digs in the contest, with 10 from Guzzetta, and six from both Bechina and Dieball.
UP NEXT
The Bishops travel to Heidelberg on Wednesday to face the Student Princes at 7:00 p.m.
