COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three more games are on tap for the Ohio Dominican volleyball team this week. The Panthers will play host to Ashland University on Tuesday before traveling to Cedarville University on Friday and Thomas More University on Saturday.

Last week, the Black and Gold opened their home schedule with three conference contests. ODU fell to Cedarville, 3-2, and Tiffin, 3-0, but defeated Findlay, 3-2, pushing their overall record to 5-6 and their conference record to 2-3.

About Ohio Dominican
In 13 sets of play, Kelsey Shoup (Dalton, Ohio) collected 57 digs, an average of 4.38 per set. Shoup has the fourth most digs in the G-MAC with 202 and the sixth best average with 4.21 digs per set. Fellow defensive specialist, Alexis Keipert (Burlington, Ky.) notched 35 total digs and four service aces over the three games.

Junior Lauren Lucas (Grove City, Ohio) combined for 38 kills and 36 digs in the 13 sets she played in. Lucas averaged 2.92 kills and 2.77 digs per set. The junior also added six blocks and four service aces. Ashley Aselage (Tipp City, Ohio) netted 33 kills and nine blocks in her 13 sets of action. Grace Zinchuk (Schaumburg, Ill.) and Jenna Peters (Vermilion, Ohio) collected nine blocks each with Zinchuk posting 22 kills and Peters 21.

Leading the way was Gabrielle Kirker (Tallmadge, Ohio) with 72 assists. Kirker grabbed 30 digs and four service aces as well. Following her was Saige Avery (Yorkville, Ill.) with 51 assists and 22 digs. The sophomore had eight kills and a block. In six sets, freshman Ava Horn (Whitehouse, Ohio) recorded 11 total blocks, an average of 1.83 per set.

About Ashland
The Eagles are 9-4 overall and 3-1 in G-MAC play going into the fifth week of the season. Last week, Ashland lost the Findlay, 3-2, and beat the Dragons of Tiffin, 3-1.

Leading the way for AU and the conference is Makenna Belcher with 185 total kills. Belcher has the third best hitting percentage at .344 and the second best average, 3.56 kills per set. Setter, Kylee Urban, averages 5.75 assists per set with a total of 299 assists on the year. Senior Katie Thompson is tied for first in the conference with 227 total digs, averaging 4.37 digs per set.

The Eagles hold a 13-1 record over the Panthers in the Division II Era. AU has won the last six matchups between the two with ODU's only win coming in 2015.

About Cedarville
The Yellow Jackets and the Panthers faced off last Tuesday where Cedarville came from behind to defeat Ohio Dominican, 3-2. After beating ODU, CU lost at Hillsdale, 3-2, and at Northwood, 3-0, making them 7-5 overall and an even 2-2 in conference.

Freshman Madelyn Hensley leads the conference in averaging 3.73 kills per set. Hensley has 149 total kills and 12 total blocks this season. Kaley Matney averages 6.60 assists per set with a total of 297 assists. Libero, Talia Felton, averages 3.36 digs per set in the back row.

Cedarville is now 14-3 against Ohio Dominican, winning the last four matches. The Yellow Jackets will host the Dragons of Tiffin on Tuesday before welcoming the Panthers on Friday.

About Thomas More
The Saints post an overall mark of 1-11 and a G-MAC mark of 0-4 in their first official year in the conference. Last week, TMU lost to Trevecca, 3-2, at Northwood, 3-0, and at Hillsdale, 3-0.

Sophomore Emily Acito leads the way with 86 kills. Junior Sam McClanahan averages 6.79 assists per set with a season total of 258 assists. Asia Ferrando has collected 182 digs in her junior year, averaging 4.55 per set. Ferrando also leads with 17 service aces.

The Saints and the Panthers met last year with the Black and Gold topping the conference newcomer, 3-1, in the first ever meeting. TMU hosts Ashland on Friday before the Panthers on Saturday.

Game Times
First serve is set for 6:00 PM against Ashland inside Alumni Hall on Tuesday evening. Action continues of Friday at 7:00 PM at the Callan Athletic Center with Cedarville hosting the Panthers. The Black and Gold will wrap up the week at Thomas More University on Saturday afternoon with a 12:00 PM start in the Connor Convocation Center.