HILLSDALE, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team dropped its second conference match of the season, falling 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-21) to No. 11 Hillsdale Friday in GLIAC action.

With the setback, ODU falls to 6-2 (1-2 GLIAC), while the Chargers improved to 7-1 (4-0 GLIAC).

In the first set, HC scored the first five points, and the Panthers would draw no closer than four in the set. Kristy Birkemeier (Columbus Grove, Ohio) had five kills in the set, but the Chargers hit .375 to take it.

The second set was close in the early going, as an ace by Birkemeier knotted the score at six. Hillsdale, though, scored seven straight to take control of the set. ODU answered with a pair of points to make it 13-8, but the Chargers would push their lead to as many as 10 points in taking a 2-0 advantage.

ODU hung close with Hillsdale throughout the third set, tying the score at eight on kills by Birkemeier and Caitlin Kusan (Westerville, Ohio). The Chargers took a 13-9 advantage, and another kill from Kusan made it 13-10. HC, though, scored the next four to build a seven point lead. ODU cut the deficit to 24-21 with a Rachel Billing (Anna, Ohio) kill, but it would not be enough.

Birkemeier led the Panthers with 10 kills and had her first double-double of the year, finishing with 13 digs. Kusan recorded eight kills, Billing finished with seven and Emily Post (St. Henry, Ohio) had five kills in nine attacks as well. Meredith Shifley (Galion, Ohio) and Kelsey Snyder (Macomb, Mich.) led the Panthers with 15 assists apiece and Stacy Rogg (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied 14 digs.

The Panthers continue their road swing through the GLIAC South Division, taking on Wayne State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu