RV Tigers Use long Runs to Sweep the Wolves

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University Tigers had a few struggles early on in the first two sets of their match against the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves, but were able to use a series of runs to stay above water and beat the Wolves, 3-0.

The Tigers came out a little sloppy in the first set as they had a few errors that put them down 5-2 early, but they quickly turned around and had a 10-3 run that was led by a couple of service aces by Kaitlyn McMahan (JR/Grant Park, Ill.) and kills from Sutton Bate (SO/Flushing, Mich.) and Carleigh Johnson (JR/Kankakee, Ill.) to take the lead, 12-8. After the ONU run, the Tigers let the Wolves back in it with a 3-0 run to pull within a point, but the Tigers battled back again and were able to pull away with an impressive 13-5 run to win the set. The set-ending run was aided by three kills from Becca Bell (JR/Salem, Wis.) and two more kills from Katarina Nikolic (JR/Belgrade, Serbia).

First Set: ONU 25, CSU 16

The second set started off similarly to the first set as the Tigers lost the first couple of points, but this time it was not as easy to battle back. The Tigers had the lead for a short time as they led 6-4 thanks to a kill by Johnson and a block by Bate and Bell. However, that was short-lived as the Tigers let nine straight points on the board to find themselves down once again. The Tigers did not give up though as they were able rebuild their confidence to pull off a 10-2 run to take the lead, 16-15. The run was started by two kills from Nikolic and Bate and was ended by a pair of kills from Johnson. After the run, the Tigers were able to pull away from the Wolves to win the set, 25-20, after an emphatic block by Bate.

Second Set: ONU 25, CSU 20

The third set started off very competitively as the Tigers and the Wolves went back-and-forth for the first several points of the set. After the game was tied at seven points apiece, the Tigers went on another run that was led by a service ace by McMahan and a kill from Rachel Newport (JR/Avon, Ind.) to gain some separation from the Wolves.

The Tigers were then were able to keep the momentum going to pull away from the Wolves and take the win.

Third Set: ONU 25, CSU 18

GAME VITALS

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, CSU 16 | Second Set: ONU 25, CSU 20 | Third Set: ONU 25, CSU 18

Records: Olivet Nazarene – 13-1 (13-1 CCAC) | Away Team – 9-4 (9-4 CCAC)

Location: Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill. | McHie Arena

STAT TRACKER

• Janelle Skinner (JR/Bolingbrook, Ill.) had 35 assists
• Bell led with 12 kills
• Johnson followed with nine kills and 10 digs
• McMahan notched 14 digs

WHAT'S NEXT?

The next match for the Tigers will see them hit the road again as they take on the Lakers of Roosevelt University on March 25. The match will be at 7 p.m. at the Athletic & Convocation Center in Arlington Heights, Ill.

*ONU streaming network: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/olivet/

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Contact: Joshua Seiberlich, SID Intern, jpseiberlich@olivet.edu