UOlivet rallies to beat Anderson in four sets

OLIVET, Mich. – After dropping the first set, The University of Olivet women's volleyball team won the next three sets to beat Anderson (Ind.) University tonight at the Cutler Event Center. The Comets needed extra points to win the final three sets, 27-25, 26-24 and 30-28.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Olivet defeated Anderson 15-25, 27-25, 26-24, 30-28
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 3-7 overall, Anderson 5-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first set, Anderson led 4-0 and never looked back. For the set, the Ravens posted a .452 attack percentage, while the Comets had a .091 hitting percentage.
• Anderson built a four-point lead on two occasions early in the second set at 9-5 and 14-10. Olivet answered with a 5-0 run to take its first lead. The Ravens responded with a 5-1 spur to gain a 19-16 lead. The Comets fought back to even the score at 20-20. Anderson scored the next four points to get to set point. Olivet wiped away the set points to tie the score, 24-24. A Raven kill made the score 25-24. The Comets scored the final three points on a kill by freshman Payton Smith and two Anderson attack errors to win the set, 27-25.
• In the beginning of the third set, Olivet used a 6-1 run to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 7-3 lead. The Comets held advantage until the Ravens put together a late push to go from being down 23-20 to leading 24-23. Like the second set, Olivet put the final three points on the scoreboard – a kill by senior Violet Porter and two Anderson attack errors – for the 26-24 win.
• In the fourth se, the Comets led by as many as seven points twice. After the second time at 18-11, the Ravens used an 8-1 run to level the score at 19-19. Olivet answered with three straight points before Anderson scored five unanswered points to go up 24-22. The Comets fended off the set points with a 3-0 spurt to make the score 25-24. From there, the teams traded points to create tied scores at 25-25, 26-26, 27-27 and 28-28. A Raven attack error and kill by freshman Hailey Day won the set and match for Olivet.

FOR THE COMETS

• Three Comets reached double figures in kills.
• Day had a match-best 14, followed by Porter (13) and Smith (10).
• Junior Julia Hall tallied nine kills.
• Porter recorded a .455 attack percentage.
• Sophomore Jordyn Smith dished out 50 set assists.
• Senior Jaydn Cary recorded a match-high 32 digs, tying for the third-most in a four-set match since the 2003 season.
• Sophomore Ashlynn Giannunzio was next with 19, followed by Smith (13), junior Kaylee McDaniel (12) and junior Olivia Still (11).

UP NEXT

• Olivet participates in the Elmhurst (Ill.) University Bluejay Invitational. On Friday, the Comets face Aurora (Ill.) University at 1:30 p.m. EDT, followed by a match against Lawrence (Wis.) University. On Saturday, Olivet plays Elmhurst at 11 a.m. EDT.