COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a competitive match that featured 20 ties and nine lead changes, Ohio Dominican's volleyball team couldn't come away with a victory as the Panthers fell 3-0 (26-28, 20-25, 23-25) to visiting Ashland Friday night in GLIAC action at Alumni Hall.

The Panthers dropped their sixth straight match and fell to 7-19 (2-16 GLIAC), while Ashland improved to 17-11 (10-8 GLIAC).

ODU rode a strong start to the match to build an 11-4 lead in the first set. The Eagles clawed their way back into the contest, though, tying the score at 17. The score swung back and forth, with ODU serving for the set at 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25, but the Panthers could not seal the deal as Ashland tallied the final three points. Tara Winner (Versailles, Ohio) had five kills in the set, but the Panthers were plagued by 11 attack errors.

It was Ashland's turn to take the early advantage in the second set, as the Eagles took a 13-7 lead. Still trailing 18-13, ODU rattled off five straight points on the strength of several Ashland errors, and a kill by Rachel Billing (Anna, Ohio) evened the score at 18. However, Ashland recorded the next four points and pulled away to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Once again, the Panthers found themselves trailing in the third set, and once again they battled their way back. Ashland led 15-9 but a kill from Winner and back-to-back kills by Billing brought the Panthers to within 17-15. ODU tied it up at 21 after a block by Summer Hale (Galena, Ohio) and Emily Post (St. Henry, Ohio). Ashland scored the next two points, though, and even after a kill from Shannon Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio) cut the score to 24-23, it wasn't enough as Ashland closed the match on the next point.

Billing had 15 kills and hit .225 in the match as she became the ninth player in school history to record over 1,200 kills. Winner finished with nine kills, Hale tallied 21 assists and Stacy Rogg (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a match-high 28 digs. Nadler chipped in with six block assists as well.

The Panthers will close out their inaugural season in the GLIAC at 5 p.m. Saturday as Ohio Dominican plays host to fellow conference newcomer Lake Erie.