Senior Ashley Borchers and junior Haley Potters lead Volleyball in 3-0 victories over Transylvania (Ky.) and Bluffton

By Caleb Scott

ADA -- The Ohio Northern volleyball team extended its winning streak to six games Saturday afternoon as it wrapped up the second day of the OAC/HCAC Challenge at Collier Arena in Hanover, Ind., with 3-0 sweeps over Transylvania (Ky.) and Bluffton.

The Polar Bears improve to 14-3 overall.

Junior Megan Nieszala (Lambertville, Mich./St. Marys Catholic Central) earned All-Tournament Team honors for her efforts.

Senior Claire Heitkamp (Maria Stein/Marion Local) led the Polar Bears in the first contest with eight kills and added three blocks.

Senior Ashley Borchers (Russia/Russia) dished out a team-high 20 assists and posted a team-best .667 hitting percentage. 

Junior Haley Potters (Wheelersburg/South Webster) and freshman McKenna Jordan (Toledo/St. Ursula) added seven kills for Northern.

After winning the first set 25-13, ONU would jump out to an 11-4 lead in the second set.

TU was able to close the gap to 16-12 before back-to-back kills from Potters helped stretch the ONU lead to 18-12.

Northern would go on to win the second set 25-15.

The Polar Bears were able to complete the sweep with a 25-14 victory in the third set.

In the second contest against area-rival Bluffton, Potters led the way with a game-high 11 kills, while posting a posting a game-high .647 hitting percentage and adding four blocks.

Freshman Chelsea Huppert (Bremen, Ind./Bremen) added eight kills, while freshman Sydney Fecko (Aurora/Trinity) posted seven kills for Northern.

Freshman McKenna Hostetler (Plain City/Alder), Jordan and Nieszala, added 17, 16 and 15 digs, respectively for Northern.

After taking the first two sets 25-19, 25-22, Northern would complete the sweep with a 25-7 victory.

After Bluffton pulled within 16-12 in the first set, Borchers and Huppert would fuel a quick 3-0 run to push the lead to 19-12.

After being tied 22-22 in the second set, Fecko, Jordan, and Potters would post back-to-back-to-back kills to seal the 25-22 set two victory.

Northern would jump out to a 17-4 lead in the third set, before using an 8-3 run to take set three and seal the win.

The Polar Bears will return to action Tuesday evening, as they host Defiance at the ONU Sports Center at 7 pm.