WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University volleyball team (11-8, 3-0 NCAC) made the short trip to play 19th-ranked Otterbein (18-3, 4-0 OAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Battling Bishops put up a good fight, taking set two, but ultimately fell 3-1.
Otterbein took an early five-point lead in set one at 8-3. However, the Bishops put up some intense play to battle back within two at 11-9. Unfortunately, those efforts were erased by an 8-2 run for the Cardinals, rebuilding their lead to eight points at 19-11. A trio of kills by
Natalie Dieball kept OWU close, but the set ultimately went Otterbein's way 25-18.
The second set was a different story as the Red and Black kept Otterbein at bay and took a 15-13 lead thanks to three straight service aces by Dieball. Later on, an 8-1 string put the Bishops on the doorstep of taking the set at 24-18. Dieball closed out the set at 25-22 with a kill to tie the match at one set apiece.
Momentum flipped back to Otterbein's side in set three as the Cardinals started out ahead 8-1. Ohio Wesleyan managed to crawl back to within three points at 18-15, but were not able to get any further, resulting in the Cardinals taking the set 25-18.
OWU stuck with the Cardinals until Otterbein held an 11-9 advantage in the fourth set. After that, Otterbein went on a 9-2 streak to take firm control at 20-11. The Bishops could muster only four more points in the remainder of the set, ending in a 25-15 result for the hosts.
THE NUMBERS
Otterbein led the Bishops 47-39 in kills, 15-10 in service aces, 9-1 in blocks, and 40-37 in assists. The Battling Bishops came up with more digs at 76-74.
Natalie Dieball led the offense with 14 kills.
Megan Lantis tallied nine while
Jordanne Shannon and
Anna Kenealy each had five.
Jenna Ashbrook recorded a season-high five service aces. Dieball followed behind with four.
Abby Nulph and Shannon both had one block.
Ashbrook was the leading setter with 19 assists.
Jaelyn Taylor followed with 14.
Avery Krause led with 24 digs, surpassing 1000 for her career. Dieball followed with a season-high 14 and
Sarah Thomas tallied 10.
UP NEXT
The Red and Black travel northwest to play Wooster on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
