HAMMOND, Indiana - The Ohio Dominican women's volleyball team finished their second and final day at the Midwest Region Crossover with two games against Drury University and Purdue Northwest University.

Game 1: Drury University

The Ohio Dominican's volleyball team faced a tough match against Drury University at the second day of the Midwest Region Crossover, ultimately falling 3-1.  

Right side hitter Ashley Aselage stood out for ODU, contributing 14 kills. Gabrielle Kirker led the team in assists with 21, while Saige Avery added 16. Defensively, libero Lauren Dinunzi had a strong performance with 19 digs. 

How It Happened 

In the first set, Drury jumped ahead with a 10-4 lead, but Ohio Dominican closed the gap to 13-12 before Drury clinched it 27-25. The second set saw Drury again start strong, but Ohio Dominican rallied to tie it at 12-12 and ultimately took control, winning 25-20. 

Set three was dominated by Drury, who built a commanding 22-14 lead and won 25-15. In the fourth set, Ohio Dominican kept it competitive early on at 12-10, but Drury unleashed a powerful offensive surge, finishing strong at 25-14. With this victory, Drury secured the match 3-1. 

Game 2: Purdue Northwest

The Ohio Dominican volleyball team wrapped up their weekend at the Midwest Region Crossover with a challenging match against the Purdue Northwest Lions, ultimately falling 3-1. 

Key Performers: 

• Lauren Lucas led the Panthers with 16 kills. 

• Ashley Chmielewski contributed 11 kills. 

• Saige Avery, the setter, recorded 24 assists, nine kills, and two aces. 

• Lauren Dinunzi, the libero, had a standout defensive performance with 36 digs and five assists. 

How It Happened 

The first set was tightly contested, tied at 14-14 before Purdue Northwest edged ahead to win 25-22. Set two saw similar back-and-forth action, with the Panthers managing to pull ahead in the end, winning 26-24. 

In set three, Ohio Dominican initially led 18-12, but the Lions mounted a comeback to take the set 25-22. Set four mirrored the earlier patterns, starting tied at 8-8 before Purdue Northwest seized control, ultimately winning 25-22 and securing the match. 

Up Next 

The Panthers look to bounce back as they head to Cedarville on Friday (Oct. 25) to face the Yellow Jackets at 7 PM for a G-MAC matchup.