ONU DROPS BOTH MATCHES AT CENTRAL METHODIST TRIANGULAR

FAYETTE, Mo. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team hit the road and played in the Central Methodist University Triangular on Saturday. The Tigers fell to the No. 10 Central Methodist Eagles, 3-0, before dropping a four-set decision to the Cougars of No. 19 Columbia College. 

Match one: No. 10 Central Methodist 3, Olivet Nazarene 0

The Eagles started the opening set scoring the first seven points until Becca Bell notched two kills making the score, 7-2. The Eagles held a 10-point lead at 14-4 and the Tigers started cutting into that lead.  A kill from Anna McGovern and a service ace by Carleigh Johnson sparked a 4-0 run and cut the deficit to 14-8.  The Tigers cut the Eagle lead to four at 21-17, but Central Methodist scored four the final five points to take the first set, 25-18.

A kill by Sutton Bate opened the second set for the Tigers.  However, the Eagles took 6 of the first 10 points and led, 6-4. Katarina Nikolic and Bell notched kills for the Tigers. The middle of the set was highly contested as neither team grabbed the momentum.  With the Eagles up 12-11, the Tigers went on a 4-0 run and pulled out in front, 15-12.  The Eagles then tied the score at 16 and went on to mark five of the next six points and led, 21-17.  The Tigers still had some fight in them as they marked three of the next four points, highlighted by a service ace by Mackenzie Coats.  The Tigers eventually tied the set at 22, but the Eagles notched the final three points and took the second set, 25-23. 

Central Methodist controlled the tempo early on in the fourth set as they scored 14 of the first 18 points.  Kills by Bell and Johnson provided the early offense for the Tigers.  The Tigers never caught their footing in the third set and fell 25-14, and lost the match, 3-0. 

Match two: No. 19 Columbia 3, Olivet Nazarene 1

After the Cougars took a 5-2 lead, the Tigers picked up the next five points and led 7-5.  Kaitlyn Kolb and Johnson supplied the offense for the Tigers in the early going.  Later in the set, the Cougars were ahead 11-9 until, the Tigers went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by kills from Rachel Newport and Kolb as well as service aces from Janelle Skinner.  The Tigers led 15-11.  ONU kept up their dominance as they eventually led 21-13.  The Cougars mounted a comeback and got within three at 21-18, but the Tigers held off the Cougars and won the first set, 25-22. 

The Tigers jumped out to 6-4 lead early on. Newport, Bell, and McGovern all marked kills and McMahan served up an ace.  The set was played close until the Cougars broke it open.  With the Tigers leading, 8-6, the Cougars marked the next six points and led 12-8.  Columbia continued to lead 17-11 until Bell and Johnson halted a Columbia run making the score, 17-13. The Tigers got within three at 20-17, but the Cougars tallied the final five points of the set and won, 25-17. 

Columbia continued to carry the momentum into the third set as they led, early, 7-3.  Johnson and Bell both tallied a kill in the early going.  With the Cougars up 10-4, the Tigers marked five of the next six points.  Nikolic and Kolb each notched kill.  The Tigers were within two at 13-11, but Columbia recorded six straight points making the score, 19-11.  Unfortunately, the Tigers would not close the gap as the Cougars won the third set, 25-14, and took a 2-1 lead.

The Tigers started the fourth set with four straight points as Kolb and McMahan provided the offense.  After the Tigers took a 6-2 lead, the Cougars grabbed the momentum and marked eight of the next nine points and took a 10-7 lead. The Tigers cut into the deficit at 15-14, but Columbia put the set out of reach and led, 21-14.

The Cougars proved too much for the Tigers at the end as they took the fourth set 25-18, and won the match, 3-1.      

MATCH VITALS (Match One)

Finals: First Set: CMU 25, ONU 18 | Second Set: CMU 25, ONU 23 | Third Set: CMU 25, ONU 14

Records: Central Methodist: 25-4 | Olivet Nazarene: 15-7

Location: Puckett Fieldhouse | Central Methodist University | Fayette, Mo.

MATCH VITALS (Match Two)

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, CC 22 | Second Set: CC 25, ONU 17 | Third Set: CC 25, ONU 14 | Fourth Set: CC 25, ONU 18

Records: Columbia College: 24-7 | Olivet Nazarene: 15-8

Location: Puckett Fieldhouse | Central Methodist University | Fayette, Mo.

QUICK HITS (Match One)

• Bell led the Tigers with 10 kills.
• Nikolic followed with seven kills.
• Kaitlyn McMahan led the Tigers with 14 digs while Skinner and Johnson each had seven. 
• Skinner led the Tigers with 17 assists and Karsyn Delbridge followed with 12 assists. 

QUICK HITS (Match Two)

• Bell led the Tigers with nine kills, while Kolb turned in a career-high eight kills. 
• Johnson also registered eight kills. 
• Skinner led the Tigers with 20 assists, while Delbridge totaled 14. 
• McMahan dug out 19 attacks, while Skinner had 10. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers welcome the Titans of Indiana University-South Bend to McHie Arena for a critical CCAC match up on Thursday, October 28^th.  The opening service is set for 7 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu