TIGERS DROP CONFERENCE MATCH AGAINST LEAGUE-LEADING VITERBO

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Playing the team that currently sits atop the CCAC standings in the early season, the Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team couldn't overcome a slow start and fell 10-25, 22-25, 12-25 to Viterbo Tuesday night in McHie Arena.

After a sluggish opening set where the Tigers registered a mere -.125 hitting percentage, the Purple & Yellow Gold rallied with a strong showing in the second set.

Trailing 10-8 midway through, Kaitlyn Kolb and Sabrina Sanif teamed up to roof a block, followed by a solo block from Kaylee Cozen to tie the match. Halle Nicholas capped the three-point spurt with a kill to give the Tigers the lead.

After Viterbo (13-8, 5-0 CCAC) reclaimed the lead late in the set, the Tigers showed some life with a four-point run that featured kills from Nicholas and Cozen to tie the set at 22-22. But the V-Hawks quickly put away three unanswered points to close out the set and take a 2-0 advantage.

The Tigers never got any momentum on their side in the third set as the V-Hawks jumped out to a double-digit lead in a hurry, dropping ONU to 6-12 overall and 2-2 in the CCAC.

Nicholas led ONU with seven kills. Naomi Monney-Hori finished with six. Cozen added three kills and Kaitlyn Kolb contributed two. Ella Johnson recorded a team-high nine assists.

Sara Serafimova anchored the back line with 16 digs. Sanif and Kolb each registered two blocks apiece.

The Tigers will look to get back on track with a road match against Indiana Northwest on Oct. 1.

--ONU—

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