Volleyball team loses tough five-set match at Adrian

The Olivet College volleyball team was defeated by Adrian College in five sets this evening at the Merillat Center in Adrian.

Adrian led the first set, 18-16, before the Comets closed the set on a 9-1 run to win it, 25-19. The Bulldogs grabbed momentum back by winning the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-22. Olivet forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set. The Comets led the fifth set, 10-7, before the Bulldogs came back to tie it at 12-12 and 13-13. An Olivet attack error made the score, 14-13, followed by an Adrian kill for the winning point.

Freshman Melanie Merchant (St. Joseph) led the Comets with 14 kills and just two attack errors on 29 attempts for a .414 hitting percentage. Senior Kim Travis (Shepherd) and freshman Sam Gibson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) posted 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Sophomore Kendra Cavin (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) had nine kills.

Junior Jenessa Hicks (Union City) dished out 29 set assists, while freshman Chelsea Guzikowski (Reed City) was next with 20 assists. Travis topped the Olivet defense with 18 digs. Sophomore Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) had 12 digs, followed by Guzikowski with 11, Gibson and junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) with 10 each.

The Comets will travel to play Hope College next Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m.