COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team had no answer for the No. 14 ranked team in the nation, falling 3-0 (12-25, 20-25, 20-25) to visiting Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon in a GLIAC match in Alumni Hall.

The Panthers hit a season-low .028 and managed just 25 kills against the Wildcats, who are undefeated this season at 15-0 (11-0 GLIAC). ODU dropped to 5-10 (1-9 GLIAC).

Freshman Tara Winner (Versailles, Ohio) had a team-high nine kills, and senior Elyse Mongillo (Columbiana, Ohio) had 15 assists and nine digs. Junior Stacy Rogg (Cincinnati, Ohio) made 13 digs to lead the Panthers.

A 10-1 run by Northern Michigan in the first set gave the Wildcats a 15-4 lead, and they were in control the rest of the set. The Panthers responded with a strong start to the second set, bolting to a 6-2 lead behind the serving of senior Cassie Vome (Mason, Ohio) and freshman Emily Post (St. Henry, Ohio). Post and Winner combined on a block and Winner had a kill in the early run.

The Wildcats inched back, however, and with the score tied at nine, embarked on an 8-0 run to open a 17-9 lead. Three straight NMU attack errors, a Vome kill and a block by Vome and Post helped bring ODU back as the Panthers scored seven unanswered points of their own to cut the deficit to 17-16. But Northern Michigan registered the next three points and fended off ODU the rest of the set.

In the third set, the Panthers fell behind early but rallied to tie the score several times. A kill from junior Rachel Billing (Anna, Ohio) leveled the match at 17, and a kill from freshman Ashley Sprau (Delaware, Ohio) kept ODU within a point at 20-19, but that was as close as the Panthers would get as Northern Michigan closed the match with a 6-1 run.

The Panthers return to action on Friday and Saturday at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament in Aurora, Ill. Times and matchups have not yet been announced.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu