COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team took the first set but couldn't carry that momentum through the match, falling 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18) to Northwood (Mich.) Saturday in a GLIAC match in Alumni Hall.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Billing (Anna, Ohio) and freshman outside hitter Ashley Sprau (Delaware, Ohio) had near identical numbers to lead ODU's offense. Billing finished with 16 kills on 37 attempts and hit .324, while Sprau (pictured) tallied 16 kills on 39 attacks and a .359 hitting percentage.

Junior outside hitter Summer Hale (Galena, Ohio) tallied 10 kills and a team-high 30 assists, as well as six block assists, while junior libero Stacy Rogg (Cincinnati, Ohio) had a match-high 19 digs.

The Panthers (1-2, 0-2 GLIAC) hit .257 as a team, their highest total in their first three matches, but Northwood (3-3, 1-1 GLIAC) answered with a .296 hitting percentage and 74 kills to take the victory.

The opening set featured 13 ties and six lead changes. Three straight points from the Timberwolves bumped their lead to 23-20, but kills from Hale and Sprau and a block from freshman middle hitter Emily Post (St. Henry, Ohio) knotted the score at 23. An ODU attack error put the team's back against the wall at set point, but the Panthers scored the final three points on two kills from Sprau and a strong block at the net by freshman outside hitter Tara Winner (Versailles, Ohio) and Hale to take the first set.

Northwood hit .405 in the second set and opened up a 19-14 advantage, but the Panthers did not go quietly. Billing and Sprau had a pair of kills as the Panthers pulled within a point at 21-20, but ODU could come no closer as Northwood scored four of the final six points.

In the third set, the Panthers again hung close with NU, hitting .467 with 14 kills on 30 attempts without an error, but the Timberwolves were able to build a three-point cushion and hang on for the set victory. In the fourth set, Northwood led by seven early, and though ODU climbed within three on a pair of occasions, could come no closer.

Ohio Dominican continues its five-match homestand with a trio of contest next weekend. The Panthers host Findlay at 7 p.m. Friday, Hillsdale (Mich.) at 5 p.m. Saturday and Wayne State at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Alumni Hall.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu