COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite being outhit by visiting Tiffin, Ohio Dominican's volleyball team held off the Dragons 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 16-25, 15-8) in GLIAC action Tuesday night in Alumni Hall.

The Panthers started the fifth and deciding set on a 5-0 run, sparked by a pair of aces by freshman Darby Slavin (Columbus, Ohio) and a block by freshman Lauren Kraemer (Kettering, Ohio) and sophomore Brianna Reder (Maineville, Ohio). Tiffin narrowed the gap to 9-7, but two kills by Kraemer and freshman Tory Thompson (Quincy, Ohio) each and another termination by sophomore Caitlin Kusan (Westerville, Ohio) helped the Panthers take the victory.

With the victory, ODU evened its record at 6-6 (2-3 GLIAC), while the Dragons slipped to 5-6 (0-5 GLIAC).

The Panthers were led by a 20-kill, 14-dig effort from Thompson, her second 20-kill match of the season. Freshman Kelsey Barker (Muncie, Ind.) chipped in with 12 kills, while Kraemer had nine kills and Kusan had seven in just 10 swings.

Slavin finished with a double-double, notching 46 assists and 16 digs, while sophomore Bailey Barker (Muncie, Ind.) recorded 19 digs.

As a team, the Panthers hit just .167 after finishing the opening set with a .333 attack percentage, while the Dragons hit .180 for the match. Tiffin came into the night third in the GLIAC in hitting percentage at .242.

Slavin's serving helped ODU win the first set as well, as she had two more aces as part of a 5-0 burst to begin the match. Tiffin drew as near as 6-4 and kept it within three at 9-6, but the Panthers scored three straight at that point to go on top 12-6, and the lead would grow to as much as eight at 24-16. Thompson had six terminations in 12 swings with just one error in the opening frame as ODU racked up 15 kills.

The second set featured three ties, the last coming at 14-14, before Tiffin inched in front to stay. A kill by Thompson kept the Panthers within two at 20-18, but the Dragons responded with three of the next four points to gain enough of a cushion to close it out. ODU hit just .075 in the frame, while the Dragons hit .310.

The Panthers gained a five-point lead midway through the third set at 13-8, but the Dragons fought back with two points to bring it to 13-10. A Thompson ace and Kelsey Barker kill helped the Panthers jump back in front by six, 16-10, and the Dragons did not challenge the rest of the way as ODU jumped in front 2-1 in the match.

With a chance to close it out in four, ODU let an early 9-5 advantage slip away, with Tiffin's defense again leading its comeback like in the second set. The Dragons tallied 24 digs in the set as they went on a 5-1 run to tie it at 10, and with the set tied at 12, scored the next four points to take a lead they would not relinquish, forcing the fifth set.

In addition to her double-double, Slavin had a season-best five aces, and ODU finished with a season-best 13 aces in the match.

Ohio Dominican returns to action with a GLIAC contest at 7 p.m. Friday against Grand Valley.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu