TIFFIN, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team took the first set but couldn't sustain that momentum, falling 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 23-25) Friday night at GLIAC South Division opponent Tiffin.

The setback dropped the Panthers to 4-8 (1-7 GLIAC), while the Dragons improved to 8-5 (5-3 GLIAC).

With Rachel Billing (Anna, Ohio) serving to start the match, the Panthers raced to a 7-0 lead. Emily Post (St. Henry, Ohio; pictured) and Summer Hale (Galena, Ohio) defended the net with several blocks, Billing had an ace and Ashley Sprau (Delaware, Ohio) chipped in a kill in the run. Sprau's kill extended ODU's lead to 12-3, but the Dragons responded.

A 10-3 run by Tiffin cut Ohio Dominican's lead to 15-13, but the Panthers didn't yield. Taking advantage of several Dragon errors, a kill from Billing and a block from Sprau and Post, ODU scored the next five points and took the set, 25-18.

Tiffin took control early in the second set, scoring the first three points and never trailing to even the tally at one set apiece. The opening of the third set was back and forth before the Dragons gained command with five unanswered points to lead 14-8, pulling away down the stretch for a 25-20 win.

A kill by Tara Winner (Versailles, Ohio) early in the fourth set put the Panthers in front 6-2. An eight-point swing, however, saw Tiffin open up an 18-14 lead. Still, ODU rallied, and a 6-1 surge saw the Panthers regain the lead at 20-19. But that would be the final time Ohio Dominican would hold the lead, as the Dragons finished with a 6-3 run to close the match.

A quartet of Panthers finished with nine kills, as Billing, Shannon Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio), Sprau, and Winner each reached that mark. Stacy Rogg (Cincinnati, Ohio) led ODU with 27 digs.

The Panthers return home to host Cedarville at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Alumni Hall on "Dig for a Cure Night." In order to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, a $5 gate (except students) will be charged, and the Panther Athletic Club will hold a "Most Spirited Fan" contest in between the second and third set. There will also be ODU t-shirts for $10.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu