COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican Panthers made a statement in their long-awaited home opener at Alumni Hall, sweeping Fairmont State (10-3) in straight sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-13) in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night. The win marks the Panthers' fourth straight victory, improving their overall record to 7-3 on the season. 

Coming off two impressive wins in Michigan over the weekend, the Panthers wasted no time asserting control over the Falcons. Leading the charge was sophomore setter Saige Avery, who turned in a spectacular all-around performance. Avery led the team with 13 kills and 3 service aces, while also contributing 17 assists, 12 digs, and 2 blocks. 

Senior Jenna Peters added 10 kills, while Ashley Aselage and Brynn Clark were dominant at the net with 4 blocks apiece. Libero Christen Tarter anchored the defense with 17 digs, and setter Gabrielle Kirker led the team with 18 assists. 

As a team, the Panthers outscored Fairmont State 57-33, nearly doubling them in kills (44-24) and assists (43-18). ODU also outblocked the Falcons 7-3 and posted a strong .246 hitting percentage compared to Fairmont State's .053. 

From the opening whistle, ODU controlled the tempo. Early kills from Avery and Aselage helped the Panthers build momentum in set one. A crucial four-point rally pushed the lead to 20-14, allowing ODU to close out the first set to win 25-19. 

Set two followed a similar script, with the Panthers applying aggressive service pressure. Junior Lauren Dinunzi sparked a five-point service run that included two aces. Not long after, Avery stepped back to the service line and delivered another five-point streak, capped off by two more aces, sealing the second set 25-19. 

The third set was all Panthers. ODU jumped out to a 12-3 lead and never looked back. Another dominant service run by Avery extended the advantage to 21-12 before the Panthers closed the door with a 25-13 final, securing the clean sweep and a commanding home debut. 

Next up
The Panthers face their toughest test yet as they host #23 Findlay in a key G-MAC showdown this Friday, September 26 at 6 PM in Alumni Hall.