COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's volleyball team dropped a tightly contested 3-1 match against Urbana in non-conference play Tuesday night in Alumni Hall.

The Panthers captured the first set 26-24, then fell by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 in the following three frames in a match that was separated by only 1.5 total points between the teams (71.0 for Urbana, 69.5 for ODU).

Ohio Dominican (3-13) had 53 kills and hit .213 in the match, compared to 56 kills and a .210 hitting percentage for Urbana (8-9). The Panthers were hurt by committing nine service errors, and Urbana also had nine service aces.

Junior Ciara Ralston (Findlay, Ohio) matched her career-high with 17 kills and added 16 digs for her third straight double-double. She swung .325 in the match and added three blocks as well.

Freshman Alexis Young (Gahanna, Ohio) notched her second double-double with a season-best 13 kills and 11 digs while also hitting a personal-best .357. Freshman Ashton Barr (New Castle, Ind.) narrowly missed a double-double as she had 41 assists, her third straight match with more than 40 helpers, with nine digs.

The Panthers used a 6-0 run in the first set to grab a 10-7 lead, capped by an ace from junior Jordan Jaeckin (Olmsted Falls, Ohio). The advantage grew to six on a pair of occasions, including 19-13 on Ralston's kill, but the Blue Knights climbed back in with an 8-2 run to tie it at 21.

The teams exchanged points until it was tied at 24, and a Ralston kill and a triple block from Ralston, Barr and junior Patricia Barreto (Findlay, Ohio) ended the set in ODU's favor.

ODU had 17 kills in the set and hit .382, while Urbana had 16 kills and hit .237.

The Panthers started strong in the second set, taking a 7-3 lead on Ralston's kill and forcing an Urbana timeout. ODU maintained a four point edge at 16-12 on a kill from junior Kelly Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio), but Urbana scored five of the next points to go on top 18-17. ODU stayed within a point at 20-19 on another Ralston kill, but Urbana pulled away to take the set by four.

The Blue Knights then led for all but the first point in the second set to take a 2-1 lead in the match, but the fourth set was also even throughout. Barreto's ace kept the Panthers locked up at 18, but Urbana scored six straight points to pull away and close the match.

Nadler tallied nine kills and freshman Alyssa Hoyng (Celina, Ohio) added eight kills with a .389 hitting percentage to also lead the Panthers. Jaeckin recorded 15 digs and junior Anna Ficker (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 10 digs as well.

Ohio Dominican remains at home for a 7 p.m. match Friday against Malone. It is part of the Columbus Has No Offseason Trail sponsored by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu