ONU EARNS CRITICAL CCAC VICTORY OVER RV IUSB

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team kicked off their final home-stand of the season defeating the RV Titans of Indiana University-South Bend on Thursday night at McHie Arena.  The Tigers avenged an early season straight set loss at IUSB on September 9. 

The Tigers jumped out in front in the early going taking five of the eight points.  Kaitlyn Kolb marked one of her five kills of the first set in the early going.  ONU kept their foot on the gas.  At 6-4, The Tigers went on an 8-0 run highlighted by kills from Becca Bell, Kolb, Janelle Skinner, and three service aces by Bell.  ONU led 14-4.  ONU went up 19-7 but the Titans hung around and made the score, 19-13.  A pair of kills from Bell and Kolb, down the stretch, was enough to lift the Tigers over the Titans in the first set, 25-19. 

The Tigers continued to jump all over the Titans as they marked six of the first eight points.  Katarina Nikolic sent over a service ace and Carleigh Johnson marked three kills.  After IUSB cut the Tiger lead to 7-6, Nikolic led the Tigers with three kills as they went on a 6-0 run to make the score, 13-6.   At 17-11, Bell notched a kill and a pair of service aces making the score, 20-11. Newport, Nikolic, and Skinner provided the late offense as the Tigers defeated IUSB in the second set, 25-15. 

Bell and the Tigers started the third set marking five of the first seven points.  The Titans tied the set twice in the early going but the Tigers started to pull away.  At five all, the Tigers took advantage of three IUSB errors and Kolb notched another kill to make the score, 9-5. ONU, quietly, starting pulling away and led by as much as seven at 21-14. 

Kills by Nikolic, Bell, and Johnson sealed the 25-20 win in the third set as the Tigers swept the Titans, 3-0. 

MATCH VITALS

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, RV IUSB 19 | Second Set: ONU 25, RV IUSB 15 | Third Set: ONU 25, RV IUSB: 20

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 16-8 (12-3 CCAC) | RV Indiana University-South Bend: 18-5 (14-2 CCAC)

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

QUICK HITS

• Nikolic led the Tigers with 12 kills and was tied for second with Brianna Cannon with 11 digs. 
• Nikolic hit a team-best .258. 
• Kaitlyn McMahan led the Tigers with 19 digs. 
• Skinner led ONU with 35 assists. 
• Bell and Newport each amassed eight kills while Johnson and Kolb followed with seven and six kills, respectively. 
• The Tigers never surrendered the lead in the match. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers conclude their home schedule on Saturday, October 30 when they welcome the RedHawks of Indiana-Northwest.  The opening service for this Senior Day match begins at 1 p.m.  Please visit onutigers.com for more information. 

--ONU—

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