AURORA, Ill. – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team started the 2014 GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament with a 3-0 (17-25, 22-25, 19-25) setback to McKendree Friday afternoon.

The Panthers (9-9) hit .038 in the match, compared to .239 for the Bearcats (11-8).

ODU trailed just 14-13 in the opening frame, but McKendree answered with three straight points to pull away and take the first set.

ODU started off strongly in the second set, grabbing a 9-3 lead after a kill by sophomore Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.). The Panthers maintained a healthy lead at 17-12, but McKendree scored five straight to tie it. ODU responded with three straight to go in front 20-17, but it was all Bearcats from there as McKendree scored the next six points to go on top 23-20 and held on for the 25-22 win.

The Panthers went in front 16-14 in the third set, but another big surge by the Bearcats – this time scoring five straight – saw them fall in a 19-16 hole, and McKendree used a 5-1 run later to help put it away.

Senior Caitlin Kusan (Westerville, Ohio) had seven kills and hit .250, while freshman Ashlin Aiken (Onsted, Mich.) had 13 assists.

The Panthers play two matches Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. (CT) against Truman State and concluding the tournament with a 5 p.m. (CT) match with Missouri-St. Louis.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu