Volleyball drops both matches in final day of OAC-HCAC Challenge

ADA — The Ohio Northern volleyball team closed out the OAC-HCAC Challenge with a loss to regional rival Bluffton at the ONU Sports Center, Saturday afternoon.

Northern (7-9) fell in three sets, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-21 the Beavers (10-7) and closed out the weekend 2-2 overall.

Sophomore and All-Tournament Team selection Cenzie Yoder led the team with 14 kills, followed by 10 kills by fellow sophomore Kristen Davidson.

For Bluffton, Jenna Eshleman recorded a match-high 15 kills, followed by Courtney Zimmerman's eight.

ONU stayed ahead most of the first game until two Polar Bear attacking errors gave the Beavers a 19-18 advantage. Both teams notched a kill-for-a-kill, but two Zimmerman kills would seal the first set win for Bluffton.

It was the same story in the next two sets, as Northern would go ahead before errors and successful Beaver terminations would give the lead to Bluffton.

In addition to her team-high two serving aces, sophomore Jeni Kmic also had 15 digs. Three different Polar Bears had two blocks, including Davidson, Yoder and junior Ellen Grenert.

Earlier in the day, Northern fell 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17 to Mount St. Joseph.

Grenertled the team with 15 kills, followed by Yoder with nine kills and freshman Rachel Olachwith eight.

For MSJ, Hannah Vanarsdall led her team with a match-high 16 kills, followed by Bethani Ritter with 15. Kat Roedig and Nicole Sherpensky also had double-digit kills with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.

Northern led most of the first set before three MSJ kills and three Polar Bear attack errors gave the Lions the point swing needed for the 25-22 win.

ONU again came out hot in the second set, never trailing during the game. Kills by Olach and freshman Hannah English gave Northern the boost for the 25-16 win.

Mount St. Joseph stayed consistent through the next two sets to seal the match victory.

Defensively, Olach had five total blocks (one solo, four assists), followed by Grenert's three blocking assists. Kmic had 23 digs.

ONU opens its 2011 OAC schedule Tuesday with a road match at Muskingum. The first serve is slated for 7 p.m.