ALLENDALE, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team hit .283 in each match as the Panthers opened the year with a doubleheader sweep of Bemidji State and Lock Haven Friday afternoon at the GVSU Laker Riverfront Classic.

ODU defeated Bemidji 25-20, 25-19 and 25-20 in the opening match of the day before defeating Lock Haven by counts of 25-21, 25-21 and 25-17.

Junior Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.) totaled 27 kills against just three errors for a .429 hitting percentage on the day. Senior Tory Thompson (Quincy, Ohio) and sophomore Ciara Ralston (Findlay, Ohio) each had 16 kills and freshman Kelly Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio) totaled 13 while hitting .462.

Senior Kelsey Fortney (Lorain, Ohio) registered 40 assists between the two matches, giving her 1,025 for her career. Freshman Anna Ficker (Cincinnati, Ohio) had a team-best 27 digs, and classmate Rebecca Skidmore (Westerville, Ohio) had 10 total blocks on the day.

With the first set against Bemidji tied 16-16, ODU ripped off the next five points, taking advantage of several BSU errors while also picking up a combo block by Skidmore and junior Taylor Foster (Ida, Mich.) to take a 21-16 lead. A kill by Foster, consecutive terminations by Oestreich, and one final kill from Nadler closed the opening set for ODU.

The Panthers hit .548 in the first frame, with 19 kills against just two errors.

ODU found itself trailing 15-14 in the second before going on another run. Oestreich sparked it with back-to-back kills, Ralston served for an ace, and Nadler and Oestreich teamed up on a block to give ODU an 18-15 cushion. Bemidji State scored twice to cut it to 18-17, but the Panthers pulled away with four straight points, including another kill from Oestreich and a block by Skidmore and Thompson.

The Panthers trailed 12-9 early in the third frame before taking the lead for the good at 15-14 on a Beaver attack error. Thompson's kill on an assist from Fortney sealed the match for ODU.

ODU hit .283 in the match while limiting Bemidji to a .158 hitting percentage. Oestreich led all player with 13 kills while also hitting .520, and Ralston finished with nine kills while hitting .400, the second-best percentage in her career.

Nadler tallied seven kills in her debut and Thompson recorded six with a team-best 10 digs. Skidmore led all players with four total blocks and Ficker registered four service aces.

Fortney finished with 22 assists and freshman Jordan Jaeckin (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) chipped in with 13 helpers as well.

Against Lock Haven, ODU fought off several late challenges in the first set. ODU had a four-point cushion trimmed to one on a pair of occasions, including at 18-17, but was able to hold on as Nadler's kill and an LHU error ended the first frame at 25-21.

ODU found itself behind 21-20 in the second set but scored the final five points to take the frame. Oestreich had a kill, then combined with Thompson on a block for a 22-21 lead. Thompson followed with a kill of her own, Ralston tallied an ace, and one final termination from Nadler gave ODU a 2-0 edge in the match.

In the third set, the Panthers steadily pulled away, as a 15-13 lead grew to 20-14 after kills by Thompson and Ralston and an LHU error. Once again, Nadler provided the final blow of the frame with her sixth kill of the match, lifting the Panthers to a 2-0 record on the day.

Oestreich led all players with 14 kills while hitting .355 and Thompson added 10 kills with seven digs. Ralston totaled seven kills and 11 digs, and Ficker led all players with 18 digs. Fortney chimed in with 18 assists and Jaeckin added 15 assists as well.

The Panthers are back in action at 10 a.m. Saturday against Concordia (Ore.) and at 2 p.m. against Quincy.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu