UOlivet drops two matches at Case Western Invitational

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The University of Olivet women's volleyball team was on the losing end of two matches today at the Case Western Reserve University Invitational. The Comets began the day with a heartbreaking five-set loss to Heidelberg (Ohio) University. Olivet then fell to University of Mount Union (Ohio) in three sets.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Heidelberg defeated Olivet 24-26, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12
• Location: Veale Center; Cleveland, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 0-5 overall, Heidelberg 6-2 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Student Princes led the first set by three points, 13-10. The Comets reeled off three straight points to tie the score. From that point, neither team led by more than two points. Heidelberg got to set point at 24-23 before Olivet used a kill and ace by freshman Hailey Day and kill by freshman Payton Smith to win the set 26-24.
• The second set saw Heidelberg take a three-point lead, 15-12. The Comets scored four consecutive points for a 16-15 lead. The Student Princes ended the set on a 10-1 run for a 25-17 win.
• In the third set, Heidelberg built an early five-point lead. Olivet slowly chipped away at its deficit and did not take its first lead until sophomore Ashlynn Giannunzio's kill made the score 24-23. A ball handling error gave the set win to the Comets.
• Olivet led 9-8 in the fourth set. A 6-0 Heidelberg run made the score 14-9. The Comets fought back to close the gap to two points on several occasions but never got any closer.
• In the fifth set, Olivet held a four-point lead 7-3. The Comets continued to hold the lead until the Student Princes went on 4-0 spurt to turn an 11-10 deficit into a 14-11 lead. Olivet got a kill to make the score 14-12 before a Heidelberg kill ended the set and match in its favor.

FOR THE COMETS

• Three Olivet players reached double figures in kills.
• Junior Julia Hall led the way with 14 kills and .324 attack percentage.
• Day was next with 12 kills, followed by senior Violet Porter with 10.
• Sophomore Jordyn Smith recorded 47 set assists.
• Junior Kaylee McDaniel served four of the nine Comet aces.
• Senior Jaydn Cary and Giannunzio had 22 and 21 digs, respectively.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Mount Union defeated Olivet 25-18, 25-13, 25-13
• Location: Veale Center; Cleveland, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 0-6 overall, Mount Union 4-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 9-5 in the first set, the Comets strung together five points, including four kills, to take a 10-9 lead. The Purple Raiders responded with a 4-0 run to regain the lead, 13-10. Mount Union held the lead for the remainder of the set, winning it 25-18.
• The Purple Raiders never trailed in both the second and third sets.

FOR THE COMETS

• Hall recorded a team-best six kills.
• Senior Morgan Good tallied five, followed by Porter and Smith with four each.
• Smith notched 17 set assists.
• Cary had 12 digs, while Giannunzio added nine.

UP NEXT

• Olivet plays its home-opener next Thursday, September 11, against Grace Christian University. The first serve inside the Cutler Event Center is at 6:30 p.m.