HILLSDALE, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team couldn't close out a 2-1 lead at Hillsdale, falling in five sets (25-18, 19-25, 25-22, 19-25, 9-15) on the road in GLIAC play Friday night.

With the setback, ODU dropped to 12-12 (5-7 GLIAC), while the Chargers improved to 16-6 (8-4 GLIAC).

Senior Tory Thompson (Quincy, Ohio) led a quartet of Panthers in double figures in kills with her 18 terminations and 12 digs. Junior Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.) tallied 11 kills with eight total blocks, sophomore Ciara Ralston (Findlay, Ohio) had 11 kills with 23 digs and junior Taylor Foster (Ida, Mich.) added 10 kills with 13 digs.

A 7-0 run in the first set helped propel the Panthers to taking the lead in the match. Trailing 6-4, ODU took advantage of six hitting errors by the Chargers to take the lead, 11-6. ODU would lead by as much as eight down the stretch, claiming a 25-18 win in the set. The Panthers had just 10 kills, but Hillsdale committed 11 hitting errors.

Hillsdale led throughout the second set, but ODU hung close, drawing within 18-16 on a kill by Oestreich. The Chargers scored the next two points, though, and ODU could not draw within three the rest of the way.

The third set was tied at 13 before ODU earned some breathing room. Oestreich had a kill, then teamed with senior Darby Slavin (Columbus, Ohio) on a block to put ODU in front. Slavin had a kill, and two Hillsdale errors put the Panthers in front 18-13. Hillsdale closed it to 23-22, but committed two errors to let ODU come away with the win.

Hillsdale came out strong in the fourth set, though, jumping to a 5-1 lead early, and ODU would trail by as much as eight in the frame.

In the fifth, ODU trailed 9-7, but the Chargers scored the next four points to pull away.

Slavin tallied 49 assists while freshman Anna Ficker (Cincinnati, Ohio) made a game-high 26 digs.

Ohio Dominican remains on the road for a 4 p.m. match Saturday at Findlay.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu