No. 23 Volleyball rallies for 5-set victory over Centre (Ky.) in season opener at Denison Invitational
By Tim Glon
GRANVILLE — Junior Ava Ehlinger (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) had a career-high 18 kills as the No. 23-ranked Ohio Northern volleyball team rallied for a 25-19, 21-25, 18-25, 26-24, 15-11 season-opening victory over Centre (Ky.) at the Denison Invitational Friday night at Livingston Gymnasium.
The Polar Bears (1-0 overall) were down two sets to one and trailed 22-18 late in the fourth set before rallying for their fourth consecutive season-opening victory.
Northern rallied with a 5-0 run to grab a 23-22 lead, only to see CU come back to serve for the match at 24-23.
A kill by sophomore Sonia Dahlin (Minnetonka, Minn.) tied the match at 24-all, an ace by senior Hannah Irmer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) gave ONU a 25-24 lead and a hitting error by the Colonels gave ONU the set and tied the match at 2-all.
In the fifth set, the match was tied at 11-all when a pair of aces by Irmer, sandwiched around a kill by Dahlin, keyed a match-ending 4-0 run to give Northern the victory.
"I am proud of the way we kept battling," ONU head coach Katie Kuhn said. "We played young tonight, but kept our composure and ground out a big win against a quality opponent. Ava was very good for us tonight and Hannah Irmer was big with her serves late in the match."
Sophomore Erin Wagner (Massillon/Perry) had 13 kills, senior Melina Woods (Ada) added 11 kills, Dahlin had nine kills and sophomore Lauren James (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) had eight kills for ONU.
Freshman Caroline Hensley (Loveland/Bishop Fenwick) finished with 46 assists in her first collegiate start at setter.
Centre (1-1) was led by Emily Goddin with 15 kills.
The Polar Bears will conclude the Denison Invitational on Saturday with afternoon matches against Houghton (N.Y.) and Denison.