FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Ohio Dominican volleyball team opened their season on Friday at the Kentucky State Invitational.

Box Score Notes

• Junior Olivia Kirksey (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) led ODU on the day with 17 kills. She registered eight in the first match and nine in the second.
• Freshman setters Gabrielle Kirker (Tallmadge, Ohio) and Saige Avery (Yorkville, Ill.) collected double-digit assists. Kirker tallied 12 against Edinboro and Avery had 13 against West Alabama.
• The Panthers combined for nine aces in game two.
• Freshman Grace Zinchuk (Schaumburg, Ill.) led the Black and Gold with nine blocks. She also added seven kills.
• Defensive specialists Alexis Keipert (Burlington, Ky.) and Kelsey Shoup (Dalton, Ohio) connected for 40 digs on the day.

How It Happened (Edinboro)

• The Panthers quickly took the lead by scoring the first two points but shortly trailed the Fighting Scots 12-8.
• ODU would then tie it up at 13-all with a block from Ashley Aselage (Tipp City, Ohio) and Zinchuk.
• The Black and Gold would go on to register four kills from four different players, but still ended up short and dropped set one 25-18.
• In set two, Ohio Dominican came out strong and took the lead 10-8.
• Edinboro regained the lead and remained in the lead after three attacking errors from the Panthers.
• ODU fell in set two 25-16.
• The third set was tied at 3-all with a kill from freshman Jenna Peters (Vermilion, Ohio).
• The Fighting Scots went on a 10-2 run pulling away from the Panthers with a score of 13-5.
• Edinboro took set three, 25-14.

How It Happened (West Alabama)

• ODU trailed early after a 6-point run from UWA making it 9-3.
• The Panthers answered with a 7-point run of their own, bringing the score to 20-17.
• The Black and Gold scored the last seven points of the set, including a game-ending ace from Kirker (25-22).
• Similar to set one, ODU trailed early in the second set 4-0.
• They went on to outscore the Tigers 7-3, tying the game at 7-all.
• After five lead changes and four ties, the Panthers took set two, 25-18.
• UWA came out strong in set three, taking an 11-4 lead early.
• ODU answered by going on a 10-3 run to tie the set at 14-all.
• The Panthers would remain in the lead and end the match on a kill from Kamryn Maxwell (Norwalk, Ohio) (25-19).

Un Next

The Black and Gold will be back in action for day two of the Kentucky State Invitational on Saturday. The first serve is set for 11 AM against Maryville (Mo.). The Panthers take the court again at 5 PM against the tournament host, Kentucky State.

Contact: Bailee Worley
worleyb@ohiodominican.edu