No. 22 Volleyball falls in three sets at Heidelberg in battle of league unbeatens

By Tim Glon

TIFFIN — The No. 22-ranked Ohio Northern volleyball team dropped a tight 26-24, 28-26, 25-17 volleyball match at Heidelberg in a battle of league unbeatens Tuesday night at Sieberling Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears fall to 19-5 overall and 5-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play as their 12-match winning streak was snapped. The Student Princes improve to 19-5, 6-0.

Senior Kaitlann Hogrefe had 12 kills and two blocks and junior Claire Heitkamp added eight kills to lead ONU.

In the first set, ONU went on a 6-1 run to take an early 10-7 lead. Northern led 24-22, but Heidelberg scored the final four points to take the opening set.

In Set 2, the Polar Bears again went on an early run, scoring five straight points, to take a 10-6 lead.

The led grew to 16-8 before HU rallied, scoring 10 of the next 11 points, to go ahead 18-17.

The hosts led 24-22 and ONU turned the tabled by tying the game at 24-all. With the score 26-26, the Student Princes got back-to-back kills to win the set 28-26.

Heidelberg scored eight straight points to take a commanding 10-2 lead in set three. Northern battled back within five points on three different occasions, but could get no closer and the hosts would complete the sweep.

Sarah Parker had 16 kills and Mariah Sullivan had 12 kills to lead HU.

Northern his .164 with 41 kills and 18 errors and Heidelberg hit .252 with 51 kills and 15 errors.

The Polar Bears will return home on Saturday to host Muskingum at 1 pm at the ONU Sports Center.