COLUMBUS, Ohio – A strong defensive effort helped lift Ohio Dominican's volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-15, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20) victory over Lake Erie Friday night in GLIAC play from Alumni Hall.

The Panthers held the Storm to a .100 hitting percentage, including a -.016 attack percentage in the first two frames. ODU registered 10 team blocks in the effort.

Senior Bailey Barker (Muncie, Ind.) and freshman Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.) each tallied eight kills while sophomore Courtney Braun (Hilliard, Ohio) had seven. Juniors Lauren Rindler (Rossburg, Ohio) and Brianna Reder (Maineville, Ohio) each totaled six kills as well in a balanced offensive effort.

Freshman Heidi Hess (Dayton, Ohio) finished with 18 assists, sophomore Kelsey Fortney (Lorain, Ohio) added 16 and freshman Megan Hendershot (Galloway, Ohio) had a team-best 12 digs as well.

ODU (12-15, 6-9 GLIAC) bounced back from a 5-1 deficit in the first set, taking an 11-10 lead on Fortney's ace. That was part of a 7-1 run, capped off by Barker's kill, that staked ODU to a 17-11 advantage, and the Panthers continued to pull away. ODU hit .455 in the opening set, committing just one hitting error in the frame.

The Panthers held a slim 14-13 lead in the second set but used another 7-1 burst to pull away from Lake Erie (1-23, 1-14 GLIAC), capped off by a Braun solo block and a Rindler kill.

After falling in the third set, the Panthers utilized an 8-1 surge in the fourth to take control and go in front 17-11. The Storm drew within 20-19, but the Panthers closed them out with another strong run, tallying five of the final six points, to claim the win.

Ohio Dominican remains at home for a 5 p.m. GLIAC match with Ashland Saturday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu