TIGERS DROP FINAL TWO MATCHES OF BELLEVUE TOURNAMENT

BELLEVUE, Neb. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team wrapped up their play in the Bellevue University Tournament on Saturday. Despite playing two competitive matches against top opponents, the Tigers left Nebraska empty-handed.

First Match: (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene 3, Olivet Nazarene 0

After falling behind 16-8 in the first set, the Tigers rallied back with five-straight points. Sutton Bate, Kaylee Cozen, and Kelsey Todd all recorded kills in the stretch. MidAmerica Nazarene would respond with six straight points of their own to put the set away.

ONU came out firing in the second set, building a quick 12-5 lead over the Pioneers. After some back-and-forth volleyball, the Tigers found themselves at set-point after Kylie Hasselbacher buried a ball from Julianne Kielion. However, the Pioneers would outscore the Tigers 4-1 to close out the set.

The Tigers kept pace with the Pioneers in the final set until MNU rattled off five-straight points twice late to take the set and the match.

Second Match: No. 15 Central Methodist 3, Olivet Nazarene 0

In their final match of the tournament, the Tigers drew the Central Methodist Eagles, the No. 15 team in the NAIA. ONU played three competitive sets, but came up empty in the match.

The Tigers kept it at a one-point deficit late in the first set until the Eagles scored three straight to close it out. CMU jumped out to big lead early in the second set, but the Tigers would fire off eight points of nine to cut the lead to two. However, the Eagles had too much fire power for the Tigers to overcome.

The third set followed a similar script with the Tigers hanging tough but not finding the points late to win the set. The Eagles took the final set 25-19 to give the Tigers their eighth loss of the season.

GAME VITALS

Finals: Match One: First Set: MNU 25, ONU 15 | Second Set: MNU 27, ONU 25 | Third Set: MNU 25, ONU 13

Match Two: First Set: CMU 25, ONU 21 | Second Set: CMU 25, ONU 21 | Third Set: CMU 25, ONU 19

Records: MidAmerica Nazarene 8-0 | Central Methodist 6-1 | Olivet Nazarene 0-8

Location: Gordan Lozier Athletic Center | Bellevue University | Bellevue, Neb.

QUICK HITS

First Match

• Kielion led the Tigers with 13 assists.
• Brianna Cannon recorded a game-high 13 digs.

Second Match

• Halle Nicholas led the Tigers with 13 kills.
• Kielion (17) and Karsyn Delbridge (13) both recorded double-digit assists.
• Cannon recorded a game-high 18 digs.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will open conference play with a home match against IU-South Bend on Sept. 6. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu