Volleyball team splits two matches, beats Adrian in MIAA regular season finale

ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Olivet College volleyball team splits two matches today at Adrian College. In a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) match, the Comets swept the host Bulldogs in three sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-17). Then, in a non-conference match, they lost in three sets to Defiance (Ohio) College, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-23.

Against Adrian, sophomore Sam Gibson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) had 14 kills with only one attack error on 22 attempts for a .591 hitting percentage. Sophomore Melanie Merchant (St. Joseph) added nine kills. Senior setter Jenessa Hicks (Union City) had 34 assists. Hicks and senior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) finished with 12 digs apiece.

Against Defiance, Gibson was the only Comet to reach double figures in kills with 14. She also had a team-leading .265 attacking percentage. Junior Jordy Bergeron (Muskegon/Mona Shores) was next with seven, followed by Merchant with six. Hicks contributed 28 set assists. Defensively, four Olivet players had double digit digs, led by Hicks and freshman Kaitlyn Salhaney (Caledonia/East Kentwood) with 12 apiece. Iloncaie and junior Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg Augusta) were next with 11 and 10, respectively.

The Comets conclude the regular schedule portion of their schedule with a 12-10 overall record and 7-9 MIAA mark. Olivet will be the fifth seed in the MIAA Tournament and travel to play fourth-seed Kalamazoo College in the first round Tuesday night at 7 p.m.