CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Ohio Dominican volleyball team began their season at the Vulcan Volleyball Invitational. The Black and Gold played a total of 10 sets on the day, concluding with a 1-1 record going into day two.

Box Score Notes

• Senior Libero Kelsey Shoup (Dalton, Ohio) recorded 53 total digs on the day with the addition of 17 assists. Following her was Saige Avery (Yorkville, Ill.) with 32 digs. The sophomore setter recorded back-to-back double doubles with 39 assists and 20 digs in game one and 21 assists and 12 digs in game two. Avery added seven service aces as well.
• Fellow setter Gabrielle Kirker (Tallmadge, Ohio) tallied 48 total assists, along with 20 digs and five services aces throughout the two games.
• Two Panthers recorded double-figure kills in both games including Jenna Peters (Vermillion, Ohio) who lead the team with 36 total. Peters collected 20 against Bloomsburg and 16 against California. Ashely Aselage (Tipp City, Ohio) notched 19 kills in the opener and 10 kills in the nightcap.
• Junior Lauren Lucas (Grove City, Ohio) netted 19 kills against the Vulcans and 11 digs while Grace Zinchuk (Schaumburg, Ill.) snagged 13 kills against the Huskies. Senior Alexis Keipert (Burlington, Ky.) grabbed 10 digs in the opening match and three service aces.

How It Happened (Bloomsburg)

• The Panthers found themselves behind early, 10-4, to the Huskies. Kirker came in to serve, rallying her team to an 11-10 lead.
• BU regained the lead after winning five of the next eight points, making it 15-14. The Huskies then went on another run, extending their lead to 20-16.
• The Black and Gold battled back bringing it within four with three consecutive kills from Aselage, but fell in the first set 25-21.
• In set two, Ohio Dominican came out strong with a 10-1 lead. Bloomsburg grabbed two blocks to bring it within five, making it 12-7.
• The teams went point for point before the Huskies went on a five point run to bring it to 22-24. Peters collected a kill giving the Panthers a 25-22 win, tying it 1-1.
• ODU jumped out to another early lead in the third set but the Huskies responded quickly and tied it 7-7. BU took the lead 11-9 off of a few Panther errors.
• Bloomsburg remained in the lead for a majority of the set with the Black and Gold taking a 26-25 lead late. In extra points, the Huskies went on a three point run to take the third set 28-26 and take the lead 2-1 in sets.
• Similar to the last two sets, the Panthers came out with a strong start in the fourth set, grabbing an early 5-0 lead. The Huskies went on a run of their own to tie it up at 6-all.
• The Black and Gold snagged the lead with the help of two services aces from Avery, making it 13-11. ODU rallied late to win nine of the last 10 point to force a fifth set.
•  In the final set, Ohio Dominican took control. The Panthers opened with a 6-1 lead and continued to dominate, ending the match on top 15-5.

How It Happened (California (Pa.))

• The Black and Gold found themselves behind in the opening set 7-4 before tying it up with three kills, two from Peters and one from Bailey Christiansen (Delaware, Ohio). The Panthers then went on a 6-3 run to pull away from the Vulcans, making it 13-10.
• ODU pulled ahead as many as five points before Cal U went on a run of their own to tie it at 19-all. The Vulcans ended the set with a 5-0 run, taking it 25-23.
• Ohio Dominican again found themselves playing catch up as they were behind 7-3 early. ODU battled to take the lead 16-15 after a block from Lucas.
• After going point-for-point, California took the second set 25-23, taking a 2-0 lead over Ohio Dominican.
• The Black and Gold came out strong in the third set, jumping to an early 7-3 run. ODU continued to push, extending their lead to 16-8 over the Vulcans.
• Cal U snagged three consecutive points before the Panthers grabbed five of the last six to take the third set 25-15.
• Once again, Ohio Dominican found themselves ahead early with an 8-5 lead off a kill from Peters. A block from Aselage and Zinchuk put the Panthers up 12-8.
• California tied it at 13-all off an ODU error but the Black and Gold quickly retook the lead. The Vulcans rallied late, pushing the fourth set into extra points, but ODU remained strong and won the fourth set 28-26, forcing a fifth set.
• Ohio Dominican ran ahead early with a 6-3 lead. ODU pushed their lead to 13-9 off a service ace from Avery.
• Cal U fought their way back, winning seven of the last eight points to take the set, 16-14, and win the match 3-2.

Up Next

The Black and Gold return to action Saturday afternoon with their final game at the Vulcan Volleyball Invitational. They will face West Virginia Wesleyan at 12:30 PM being first serve.