COLUMBUS, Ohio – For a second straight match, Ohio Dominican's volleyball team fought back from a two-set deficit, but the Panthers were unable to duplicate their magic from last Saturday as ODU fell 3-2 (24-26, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 9-15) Friday night to visiting Malone in GLIAC play.

The setback, ODU's home and GLIAC opener, dropped the Panthers to 4-4 (0-1 GLIAC), while the Pioneers improved to 5-2 (2-0 GLIAC).

The Panthers outhit Malone for the match, finishing with a .201 attack percentage for the match compared to .196 for the Pioneers, but were hurt by 13 reception errors and nine service errors throughout the match.

Freshman Lauren Kraemer (Kettering, Ohio) continued her strong start to the season, hitting .667 with a season-best 13 kills and just one error in 18 swings. Also registering in double figures in kills for ODU was freshman Tory Thompson (Quincy, Ohio) with 12 and sophomore Caitlin Kusan (Westerville, Ohio) and freshman Kelsey Barker (Muncie, Ind.) both tied season-highs with 11 kills apiece.

Barker and Thompson both finished with double-doubles as Thompson tallied 16 digs to Barker's 12, and freshman Darby Slavin (Columbus, Ohio) had a season-high 46 assists in the match.

ODU hit .281 in the opening set, highlighted by Kraemer's eight kills, but could not protect a 20-15 lead as Malone rallied for the 26-24 victory. The Pioneers' momentum carried into the second set, as they broke free from a 13-13 tie with a 7-1 run to go in front 20-14 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The visitors then jumped to a 7-3 lead in the third set before ODU rallied, with Kusan and Barker tallying three straight kills to put ODU on top 13-9. The lead stretched to 18-13 on a block by sophomore Brianna Reder (Maineville, Ohio) and Kraemer, and a late kill by Thompson and block by Kraemer and Thompson helped ODU stave off a Malone comeback and get back in the match.

Malone again jumped out early in the fourth set, going in front 11-5 before the Panthers again rallied. Kusan's kill made it 12-10, and a pair of Bailey Barker (Muncie, Ind.) aces helped the Panthers tie it at 12. The set, which featured eight ties, swung back and forth for the ensuing points before ODU took advantage of two Pioneer errors to go in front 18-16. Malone drew even at 21, but a kill by Slavin, consecutive spikes from Kusan, and a final termination from Thompson gave the Panthers a 25-21 lead.

In the final frame, the Panthers were forced to play catch-up again, but could not come all the way back from an 8-3 hole. Kills from Reder, Kraemer and Kusan helped cut the deficit to 10-9, but the Pioneers ripped off five straight points for the victory.

Ohio Dominican returns to GLIAC action at 5 p.m. Saturday as ODU welcomes Walsh to Alumni Hall for a GLIAC contest.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu