Volleyball team splits two matches at Davenport Panther Invitational

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Olivet College volleyball team split two matches tonight at the Davenport University Panther Invitational. In their first match, the Comets defeated University of Mich.-Dearborn in five sets (25-18, 15-25, 25-19, 25-27, 15-13) and then they fell to Davenport in three sets (25-13, 25-18, 25-13).

Against Dearborn, Olivet fell behind 12-10 in the first set before scoring 15 of the last 21 points to win the set, 25-18. The Wolves led the second set from start to finish, winning it 25-15. The Comets did the same thing in the third set, leading it wire-to-wire and winning 25-19. The last three points came on service aces for senior Jenessa Hicks (Union City). The fourth set was back and forth until Dearborn prevailed with a 27-25 win to force a deciding set. The Wolves led the fifth set 8-6 before Olivet battled back to tie it at 12-12. The Comets then closed out the match with a 3-1 run to win the set 15-13.

Sophomore Ashley Grimes (Concord) recorded a team-leading 10 kills with three attack errors on 24 attempts for a .292 hitting percentage. Junior Jordy Bergeron (Muskegon/Mona Shores) and sophomore Melanie Merchant (St. Joseph) had nine kills apiece. Hicks had five aces to go along with a team-high 23 assists. In the back row, junior Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg Augusta) and senior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) finished with 22 and 17 kills, respectively.

Against Davenport, the sets were close at the start before the Panthers pulled away late in each one. Senior Ellen Schulz (Freeland) led the Comets with eight kills, while Bergeron and Merchant each recorded five. Hicks added team-highs in set assists (15) and digs (nine). Iloncaie was next with eight digs.

The Comets will play Siena Heights University tomorrow at 9 a.m. The winner advances to play Trinity Christian (Ill.) University at 11 a.m., while the loser will play at 1 p.m.