MIDLAND, Mich. – Down two sets to none, the Ohio Dominican volleyball team rallied on the road to defeat Northwood 3-2 (21-25, 13-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-9) in a GLIAC match on Friday night.

This was the first time since a 3-2 victory over Hillsdale on October 24 of last season that the Panthers (8-9, 3-5 GLIAC) rallied to win after dropping the opening two sets.

Setting a new career high in hitting percentage at .514, senior Tory Thompson (Quincy, OH) also recorded a season high 19 kills to pace the Panthers. She also led the team in digs with 14.

Junior Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, MI) added 16 kills, as she posted her second consecutive match with a hitting percentage over .300, with a mark of .438.

Combining for 54 of ODU's 56 team assists were senior Darby Slavin (Columbus, OH) and senior Kelsey Fortney (Lorain, OH). The 54 assists were the second highest total in a match for the Panthers during 2015.

The Black and Gold also posted their third highest hitting percentage in a match this season at .329 and the third most kills with 59. Five players for ODU recorded a hitting percentage over .200 while totaling over 10 attacks.

Freshman Rebecca Skidmore (Westerville, OH) and sophomore Ciara Ralston (Findlay, OH) combined for 17 kills in the match, while freshman Anna Ficker (Cincinnati, OH) posted 13 digs.

After dropping the first two sets of the match, and trailing 16-15 in the third set, the Panthers rallied to take 10 of the final 17 points to take the match into a fourth frame.

In the fourth set ODU jumped out to an early lead, but the Timberwolves (5-11, 3-5 GLIAC) would answer to tie the set at 11-11.

Again, trailing late in the set, the Panthers would receive a kill from Ralston and NU would have two attack errors to tie the set at 21-apice.

The Black and Gold would take the final two points of the fourth set with kills from Skidmore and Thompson.

ODU would take control early in the fifth set as they did in the previous frame. The Panthers never trailed in the final set, taking it 15-9. ODU recorded 10 kills with just one error in the set, hitting .643.

Looking to build on its momentum, ODU will travel to Lake Superior State for a 1 p.m. first serve on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu