Volleyball opens conference play with a 5-set win over John Carroll

By Ashley Birchmeier

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — The Ohio Northern volleyball team opened Ohio Athletic Conference play with a 15-25, 25-23, 27-25, 17-25, 15-11 victory at John Carroll on Saturday.

ONU improves to 13-6 on the season and 1-0 in the OAC, while John Carroll falls to 14-3 overall, 1-1 OAC.

The Polar Bears fell in set one 15-25 but were able to bounce back and take set two 25-23.

Ohio Northern and John Carroll exchanged points for most of set two but after a series of kills by junior Ellie Gillespie the Polar Bears were able to increase its lead to 20-15. Junior Kaitlann Hogrefe was able to secure the set for the Polar Bears with a kill to give them the 25-23 win.

ONU trailed by as much as seven in set three but was able to rally for a 27-25 win. After being down 17-10, the Polar Bears were able to find some much needed offense from sophomores Claire Heitkamp and Kelli Weininger as they strung together a series of kills.

John Carroll was able to win set four, 25-17 and force a set five.

The Polar Bears dominated set five defeating the Blue Streaks 15-11, John Carroll never led in the set. Gillespie scored four of the Polar Bears last five points to secure the win.

Ohio Northern was led by Heitkamp with 12 kills in the match, while Hogrefe and Gillespie each had 10 kills apiece. Sophomore Ashley Borchers had 44 assists and 16 digs, Gillespie led the defense with 23 digs. 

The Polar Bears are next in action Tuesday as they host conference opponent Wilmington at the ONU Sports Center in 7 pm start.