COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican volleyball team returned to the court for their second and final day at the Eckerd Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida. After defeating Bemidji State in five sets and falling to host Eckerd in another five-set battle the previous day, the Panthers were set to take on Maryville University and UPR-Mayaguez with scheduled match times at 12 PM and 5 PM. 

Win vs. Maryville (3-2) 

ODU opened the day with another thrilling five-set win, this time against Maryville University, a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. 

Several Panthers delivered standout performances. Senior Jenna Peters led the offense with 17 kills from the strong side. Setter Saige Avery dished out 28 assists and added 17 digs. Defensively, Lauren Dinunzi recorded an impressive 31 digs along with two assists, while Grace Zinchuk contributed at the net with five blocks and nine kills. 

The first set was tightly contested, with ODU holding a slight edge at 15-13 and later at 23-21. The Panthers closed the set with two strong kills to take the early lead. In the second set, Maryville responded by maintaining a narrow lead throughout. They pulled away late with a 24-20 advantage, ultimately securing the set to even the match. 

Maryville carried their momentum into the third set, going on a five-point run to take a 19-13 lead. They followed that with a four-point streak to close out the set 25-17, gaining a 2-1 edge in the match. 

Despite the deficit, ODU fought back early in the fourth set with key offensive plays from Chloe Gels and Brynn Clark. After a back-and-forth stretch, the Panthers went on a critical five-point run late in the set to regain control and force a decisive fifth set. 

The final set was as intense as the rest of the match. After an early exchange of points, Maryville surged ahead with a six-point run. However, ODU quickly responded with a dominant seven-point run to take an 8-6 lead. With the score later tied at 11-11, the Panthers found another gear and closed out the match with a 15-11 victory. 

Loss vs. UPR – Mayaguez (0-3) 

In their final game in Florida, the Panthers faced UPR–Mayagüez, falling short in straight sets, 0–3. Ashley Aselage led the team with 10 kills, followed by Jenna Peters with 8. On defense, Christen Tarter tallied 15 digs, while Gabrielle Kirker added 14. 

The first set featured a competitive exchange of points, but UPR–Mayagüez managed to pull ahead late to take a 1–0 lead. The second set was even more intense, with both teams tied near the end and pushing into extra points. Ultimately, UPR–Mayagüez secured the final two points to claim the set. In the third set, UPR–Mayagüez maintained its momentum. Although the Panthers kept it close, a five-point run by UPR–Mayagüez sealed the match. 

Next Up
The Panthers will stay on the road, heading to Frostburg, Maryland, where they'll face three more non-conference opponents—Shippensburg, Frostburg State, and Pitt–Johnstown—before beginning conference play the following week.