DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University volleyball team (6-5, 0-0 NCAC) hosted Earlham (4-7, 0-0 HCAC) on Wednesday evening. It was an intense game with the Quakers taking the first two sets, yet the Bishops did not back down, winning the last three sets to bring home the victory against the Quakers 3-2.
The Bishops immediately snatched the lead in the first set by gaining the first point. Ohio Wesleyan and the Quakers then continued back-and-forth but Earlham gained the advantage by attaining four straight points at the end of the set, giving the Quakers a 1-0 advantage after ending with a close 25-23. The Bishops middle blocker
Abby Nulph started the second set off hot with the first kill assisted by
Jenna Ashbrook. Alas, after wavering points, the Quakers achieved a run of six points to increase their lead to 22-16 before taking the second set 25-19.
Not ready to give up, Ohio Wesleyan continued into the third set keeping the score neck-and-neck with the Quakers. After tying up the game 18-18, OWU took the lead by four points giving them the chance to spark their comeback, winning the third set 25-23. With spirits lifted, the Bishops had a breakthrough fourth set, staying ahead of the Quakers throughout and taking it 25-14 to tie up the match 2-2.
The match ultimately came down to the fifth set, with a close battle for points once again in the early moments. The Bishops and Quakers remained tied 6-6 before the apex of the set when OWU gained a run of eight points to crush the Quakers' hopes at 15-7 and secure the win 3-2.
THE NUMBERS
Ohio Wesleyan achieved 57 kills while the Quakers managed 44. The Bishops acquired 11 aces and Earlham had six. The Battling Bishops also bagged 67 digs compared to the Quakers' 58.
Sophomore
Abby Nulph led the pack with a season-high 16 kills.
Jordanne Shannon,
Megan Lantis, and
Natalie Dieball followed behind with 11.
Dieball had a season high with the most aces of the night, acquiring four.
Jenna Ashbrook also had a season high with three and
Avery Krause had two.
Nulph and Shannon each achieved six blocks – a season high for both.
Ashbrook had an outstanding 39 assists, one away from her season high.
Krause collected 18 digs. Lantis tallied 14 and
Sarah Thomas had nine.
UP NEXT
The Red and Black kick off conference play at home on Saturday, playing host to John Carroll at 1 p.m.
