GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University volleyball team (8-6, 2-0 NCAC) traveled to play two on Saturday, first taking on Denison in a conference match before playing Case Western Reserve in a non-conference contest. The Battling Bishops ended up splitting the day, defeating Denison 3-1 to remain undefeated in NCAC play, but falling 3-2 to CWRU after a close fifth set.
MATCH ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 3, DENISON 1
The Big Red took the first four points to immediately gain the lead in set one, before the Bishops fought back to equalize the score at 7-7. From that point, the Red and Black secured a lead and stayed ahead to end the first set with a thin 25-22 margin.
Denison struck back hard in the second set, gaining the lead right off the bat and never allowing the Bishops to get ahead, taking the second set 25-13 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set consisted of a fierce back-to-back game for points, going all the way up to 28-28.
Natalie Dieball helped secure the set with a kill, followed by an attack error by Denison allowing the Bishops to take it 30-28 and increase their lead 2-1.
In set four, Denison once again secured the first four points and remained in the lead until the late stages. Down 23-19, OWU fought their way back up to tie the set 24-24.
Maggi Wall put the Bishops in the driver's seat with a late ace before a pair of Big Red attack errors led to a 27-25 win for Ohio Wesleyan and a 3-1 victory overall.
The Red and Black recorded 55 kills compared to 47 for Denison. The Bishops had two service aces while the Big Red had four. OWU had 68 digs, one behind the Big Red at 69. Ohio Wesleyan setters managed 47 assists while the Big Red had 43.
Dieball achieved a new season high with 19 kills.
Abby Nulph followed behind with 12 and
Mason Campbell with nine.
Wall and Dieball each secured a service ace.
Anna Kenealy made seven blocks – setting a career high – followed by
Jaelyn Taylor with five and Nulph with four.
Jenna Ashbrook was the leading setter with 24 assists. Taylor followed with 19.
Krause collected the highest number of digs with 15. Dieball tailed 12 and
Sarah Thomas had 10.
MATCH TWO: OHIO WESLEYAN 2, CASE WESTERN RESERVE 3
OWU started off the first set by securing three points to quickly take the lead. Case Western Reserve was able to tie up the set 8-8 and eventually claim the lead. From there, the points went back-and-forth between the two teams until the Bishops tacked a few rallies together and went ahead 25-22, capped off by a kill by
Jordanne Shannon.
The second set consisted of Ohio Wesleyan and CWRU going point for point until the Spartans were able to gain a 19-13 lead, ultimately tying up the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 win.
The Bishops turned it around in set three, never letting the Spartan touch the lead and winning the set 25-16 to regain control in the match at 2-1.
Case Western Reserve turned the tables again in set four with an early four-point run. Keeping the Bishops at bay, CWRU managed a 25-15 win to tie the match back up at 2-2.
Set five was neck-and-neck until the finish. The Bishops were able to secure a three-point run and take a 15-14 lead in the late stages. However, their efforts fell short when Case Western Reserve flipped the lead not once but twice en route to a 19-17 win, taking the match 3-2.
Ohio Wesleyan recorded 58 kills compared to Case Western Reserve with 63. The Bishops had eight service aces, the Spartans had 11. OWU had 57 digs while CWRU made 60. Ohio Wesleyan managed 54 assists and Case Western Reserve had 55.
Natalie Dieball had the most kills with 19.
Abby Nulph and Shannon followed behind with 10 apiece.
Dieball dropped in five service aces.
Avery Krause,
Sarah Thomas, and
Sydney Dales each had one.
Anna Kenealy had five blocks, followed by three each from Jaeyln Taylor and Dieball.
Jenna Ashbrook was the leading setter with 28 assists. Taylor followed behind with 22.
Krause led with 13 digs. Thomas followed behind with nine.
UP NEXT
The Red and Black travel to Indiana to take on Hanover on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
