Women’s Volleyball: Olivet drops two matches at Rose-Hulman Invitational

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The University of Olivet women's volleyball team lost a pair of three-set matches today at the Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology Invitational. The Comets were defeated by Asbury (Ky.) University and the host Fightin' Engineers.

• Final Score: Asbury defeated Olivet 27-25, 25-7, 26-24
• Location: Hulbert Arena; Terre Haute, Indiana
• Records: Olivet 8-7 overall, Asbury 6-8 overall

• Olivet went ahead by four points on three occasions in the opening set. After the third time at 11-7, Asbury used three kills and an ace to even the score. From that point, neither team held more than a two-point lead, which resulted in 10 tied scores. Following a 25-25 deadlock, the Eagles scored the last two points to win the set, 27-25.
• Asbury scored the first four points of the second set and never relinquished its lead, winning the set by a 25-7 score.
• The Eagles built a five-point cushion, 9-2, early in the third set. Olivet fought all the way back to level the score at 23-23. The score was tied one more time at 24-24 before two Comet attack errors handed the set to Asbury, 26-24, and the match, three sets to none.

• Sophomore Isabella Wagasy led Olivet with eight kills.
• Senior Morgan Dillon was next with six kills.
• Junior Teagan Giannunzio had 22 set assists and 11 digs.
• Senior Emily Keeler finished with a team-leading 15 digs.

• Final Score: Rose-Hulman defeated Olivet 25-18, 25-18, 25-20
• Location: Hulbert Arena; Terre Haute, Indiana
• Records: Olivet 8-8 overall, Rose Hulman 10-6 overall

• The Fightin' Engineers led by four points, 6-2. The Comets chipped away at their deficit and closed the gap to a point at 13-12. Rose-Hulman ended the set on a 12-6 run to claim the set, 25-18.
• The start of the second set was back-and-forth, as there were multiple tied scores over the first 22 points put on the scoreboard. After an 11-11 tie, the Fightin' Engineers used a 5-0 run to go up 16-11. Rose-Hulman maintained the advantage for the rest of the set, winning it by a 25-18 score.
• The Fightin' Engineers raced out to a 5-1 lead in the third set. Rose-Hulman continued to hold a four-point advantage at 14-10 and 15-11. The Comets battled back to tie the score at 15-15 and 16-16. Olivet would never take the lead, as the Fightin' Engineers won the set, 25-20, for the three-set victory.

• Junior Abi Nunez had eight of the 20 Olivet kills.
• Dillon tallied five kills.
• Giannunzio collected 16 set assists.
• Sophomore Jaydn Cary registered 16 digs.

• Olivet starts Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play next Tuesday, September 26, when it hosts Alma College. First serve from the Cutler Event Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.