PAINESVILLE, OH - The (9-4) Ohio Dominican volleyball team traveled to Painesville, Ohio on Tuesday night for a G-MAC matchup against Lake Erie College — and they made quick work of the Storm, earning a 3-0 sweep with set scores of 25-20, 25-14, and 25-22.
The Panthers were sharp on both sides of the net, finishing with 52 kills and a .286 hitting percentage, while holding Lake Erie to just a .116 attack rate. ODU also dominated defensively, recording 72 digs and 48 assists compared to the Storm's 56 digs and 29 assists.
Senior middle hitter Grace Zinchuk led the Panthers with 13 kills and a team-high three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Logan Rubel also added 13 kills and led the team with 22 digs. Setters Gabrielle Kirker and Saige Avery ran the offense smoothly — Kirker dished out 19 assists and landed two service aces, while Avery contributed 25 assists and an ace of her own.
Set by Set
The first set was tightly contested early, tied at 13-13 mid-frame. ODU then went on a six-point run, fueled by Alyx Snyder's strong serving, to take control at 22-15. Though Lake Erie made a brief late push, the Panthers closed out the set 25-20.
Ohio Dominican came out firing in the second set, with attackers Zinchuk and Rubel setting the tone. Hitters Jenna Peters and Ava Horn also made strong contributions, helping the Panthers cruise to a 25-14 win while limiting the Storm to just 14 points.
The third set proved more competitive, as Lake Erie kept pace with ODU, tying the set at 13-13 and again at 21-21. But the Panthers held firm, with Kirker delivering clutch serves and Zinchuk sealing the match with a kill from the middle to complete the sweep.
Next for the Panthers
Ohio Dominican now turns its attention to Saturday's G-MAC showdown at home against the Tiffin Dragons. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside Alumni Hall in Columbus.