Volleyball goes 2-0 in Day 1 of ONU Invitational after 3-1 wins over Defiance and Thiel (Pa.)

By: Joseph Clarkson

ADA — The Ohio Northern volleyball team opened the 2011 season with a pair of victories over Defiance and Thiel (Pa.) in the first day of the 33rd Annual ONU Invitational at the ONU Sports Center, Friday afternoon.

The Polar Bears (2-0) defeated the Defiance (0-2) 25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 26-24 then followed up to beat Thiel (1-1) 19-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21.

"We had a great effort overall today but we'll have to work on not allowing so many unforced errors," head coach Kate Witte mentioned of the day. "We will move on and get better. Tomorrow ought to be a great challenge for us."

Against the Tomcats, sophomore Kristen Davidson led the way for Polar Bears with a match-high 19 kills. Davidson also added two aces and nine digs.

Freshman Amanda Volosin dished out 43 assists and tallied 14 digs. Sophomore Jeni Kmic led the defense with 16 digs.

Senior Megan Kay led the way for the Tomcats with 10 kills. Freshman libero Lauren Downs registered a match-high 17 digs.

After falling in set one and into game two, the Polar Bears used three service runs to gain a 12-3 advantage.

Davidson and junior Ellen Grenert both contributed kills down the stretch to give the Polars Bears the set.

With the score tied at 19-19 in set three, ONU rallied behind a three-point service run, highlighted by two kills from sophomore Jayce Born.

Trailing in the final set 12-15, the Polars Bears put together three services runs. Davidson connected for seven kills down the stretch for ONU.

Earlier in the day against Defiance, Davidson recorded a match-high 13 kills, while sophomore Cenzie Yoder registered nine kills on a .421 clip. Kmic led all players with 22 digs.

In the first set with the score tied at 8-8, the Polar Bears went on seven-point service run to take a 15-8 lead.

Davidson, freshman Rachel Olach and sophomore Julia Fuerst all recorded kills at the end of the first set to ensure the win for the Polar Bears.

ONU led in the second set 21-18, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a three-point service run to tie the game at 21-21.

Three Ohio Northern attack errors gave Defiance the second set.

In the third set, the Polar Bears used kills from Davidson, Yoder and Born to ONU a 17-12 edge.

The Polar Bears went on a four-point service run and won the third set 25-16.

In the final set, Defiance used two service runs to earn a 24-23 advantage. Northern responded with two Davidson kills and a Defiance attack error gave the victory to the Polar Bears.

The Polar Bears will square off against Trine (Ind.) at 10 a.m. and Carnegie Mellon at noon tomorrow in day two of the Invitational.