HILLSDALE, Mich. – On Friday evening, the Ohio Dominican volleyball team competed in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Semifinals for the second time since joining the conference in 2017. The #7 Panthers defeated the #6 Dragons of Tiffin University, 3-1, to advance to the Championship game for the first time in Division II history.
Box Score Notes

• For the 14^th time this season, junior Lauren Lucas (Grove City, Ohio) netted a double-double with a team high of 17 kills and 11 digs. The outside hitter added three blocks and a service ace to her stat line. Joining her in double-digit kills was Jenna Peters (Vermilion, Ohio) with 15.
• Fellow sophomore, Ashley Aselage (Tipp City, Ohio) grabbed 14 kills, along with four digs and two blocks. The last Panther in double figure kills was Grace Zinchuk (Schaumburg, Ill.) with 10. Leading the way at the net was Ave Horn (Whitehouse, Ohio) with seven blocks.
• In the backrow, Kelsey Shoup (Dalton, Ohio) collected 31 digs, four shy of her career high. Setter, Gabrielle Kirker (Tallmadge, Ohio) notched 30 assists and seven digs with Saige Avery (Yorkville, Ill.) following with 27 assists and six digs.

How It Happened

• To open the first set, Tiffin took an early lead before the two went point-for-point with ODU in front 10-9. In a close set, with no one leading more than a point, the Black and Gold snagged three consecutive points to run to a 21-18 lead late. The Panthers kept the momentum, winning four of the last five points to win the opening set, 25-20.
• In the second set, Ohio Dominican started off hot, taking a 5-1 before the Dragons tied it at 5-all. Tiffin took the lead for the first time off two kills and a block to make it 13-12. The Panthers retook the lead with a three-point swing consisting of kills from Peters and Ashley Chmielewski (Roscommon, Mich.). ODU continued to push, ending the set with a service ace from Horn to tale a 2-0 lead.
• Once again, the Black and Gold jumped to an early 5-1 lead. TU traded points with ODU to eventually take an 11-9 lead. Ohio Dominican tied it at 15-all and took a 21-19 lead with a 4-0 run. The Green and Gold turned the page, going on a six to one run to win the set 25-22.
• In the fourth set, the Dragons and the Panthers went back and forth until ODU snagged four points in a row to take a 12-8 lead. Kills from Zinchuk and Avery pushed the Black and Golds lead to 19-12. TU made a late push, but Ohio Dominican remained in control, winning the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.

Up Next
Ohio Dominican advances to the G-MAC Championship game for the first time in program history and are playing for a Championship for the first time since becoming a Division II Institution. The #7 Panthers will take on the #1 Chargers of Hillsdale on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM inside Dawns Tibbetts Potter Arena.