COLUMBUS, Ohio – After dropping the opening set, Ohio Dominican's volleyball team bounced back to knock off Charleston 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18) in a non-conference matchup Tuesday night in Alumni Hall.

The Panthers fought off late rallies by the Golden Eagles in the second and third sets to gain the lead in the match, then hit .486 with 19 kills in the fourth set to pull away with the win.

Sophomore Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.) had a huge game with 12 kills in 23 swings without an error, hitting .522 in the match. Senior Caitlin Kusan (Westerville, Ohio) added 11 kills and freshman Ciara Ralston (Findlay, Ohio) tallied 11 kills as well.

Freshman Ashlin Aiken (Onsted, Mich.) had 21 assists, junior Kelsey Fortney (Lorain, Ohio) added 18 and senior Lauren Rindler (Rossburg, Ohio) totaled 20 digs.

ODU led 15-13 in the opening set after a kill by Oestreich and an ace from Aiken, but Charleston responded by scoring six of the next seven points to go in front 19-17. Kills from senior Lauren Kraemer (Kettering, Ohio) and Rindler knotted the set at 19, but the Golden Eagles closed the set with a 6-1 run to draw first blood in the match.

The second set was just as close as the opening one, featuring nine ties and six lead changes. ODU jumped out in front 13-8 after a kill from junior Tory Thompson (Quincy, Ohio), but again UC fought back and forged a tie at 14-14. The lead swapped hands over the next nine points, and Charleston took a 23-22 advantage.

The Panthers tallied the final three points, though, as Thompson tied it on a kill, then teamed up with Kusan on a block to give ODU a 24-23 lead. After a timeout, Kraemer's termination sealed the set and tied the match at a set apiece.

In the third set, ODU led by as much as eight (14-6), but once more Charleston did not go quietly. The visitors drew within a point at 18-17 before the Panthers responded. Oestreich had a solo block, and two miscues by UC put the Panthers on top 21-17. ODU closed the set with a kill from Kusan to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Panthers then trailed just once early in the fourth set before taking control in the middle part of the set. A 5-1 run, highlighted by a kill from Fortney, gave the Panthers a 14-9 lead, and the Golden Eagles never drew within four points for the remainder of the set.

Overall, the Panthers hit .208 for the match, compared to a .161 attack percentage for UC. ODU overcame 10 reception errors – mostly early – and limited UC to just an .060 hitting percentage in the second and third sets.

Ohio Dominican returns to GLIAC action with a 7 p.m. match Friday at Wayne State.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu