Volleyball falls in four sets at #9-ranked Wittenberg

By Ashley Birchmeier

SPRINGFIELD — The Ohio Northern volleyball team fell to No. 9-ranked Wittenberg in four sets in the nightcap of the Wittenberg Classic Saturday night at the HPER Center.

The Polar Bears fall to 7-5 on the season, while the Tigers improve to 7-3.

Wittenberg took the first match by a score of 25-22 but ONU battled back and was able to defeat the Tigers in set two.

Set two opened with a 2-0 ONU lead but the Tigers never backed down. The two teams battled back and forth before the Polar Bears were finally able to jump to a three point lead.

After a kill by sophomore Ashley Borchers and a block from junior Ellie Gillespie and junior Kaitlann Hogrefe ONU was able to steal some momentum and take a 12-9 lead.

Three points is the closest the Tigers would get to the Polar Bears the rest of the set. Ellie Gillespie sealed the Ohio Northern win with a kill to defeat Wittenberg in set two 25-21.

Wittenberg won the next two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-17.

Ohio Northern was led by junior Kaitlann Hogrefe with 15 kills and sophomore Ashley Borchers with 34 assists in the match.

Wittenberg was led by Kara Seidstricker with 18 kills.

Gillespie was named to the All-Tournament team, as she recorded 26 kills in the tournament.

The Polar Bears are next in action on Friday as they take on the Mt. St. Joseph and Bluffton at the OAC/HCAC Challenge at Bluffton.