#21 Volleyball goes 1-1 at Wittenberg Classic

By Bud Denega

ADA — The No. 21 Ohio Northern volleyball team participated in the Wittenberg Classic Saturday. The Polar Bears battled two ranked foes and came away with a split.

Northern toppled No. 4 Berry (Ga.) 3-2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-15, 17-25, 15-11) and fell to No. 15 Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-10, 25-14). The results pushed the Polar Bears to 7-3 on the season. 

ONU managed 49 kills in its victory over the Vikings, while Berry boasted 60 kills. Senior middle hitter Chelsea Huppert (Bremen, Ind.) paced the Polar Bears with 15 kills to go alongside six total blocks. 

Huppert was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Freshman middle hitter Madison Kern (Loveland/Mount Notre Dame) and senior outside hitter Sydney Bapst (Grove City) had 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while senior outside hitter McKenna Jordan (Toledo/St. Ursula) and sophomore middle hitter Madi Ellis (Delphos/St. John's) recorded six kills each. Senior defensive specialist McKenna Hostetler (Plain City/Alder) logged 21 digs. 

ONU boasted 33 kills in its match against Wisconsin-Whitewater, and the Warhawks had 46. The Polar Bears were led by Huppert (Bremen, Ind.) and freshman outside hitter Megan Mahon (Amelia/West Clermont) who each had nine kills apiece. Huppert added five total blocks, while Mahon laid claim to five digs. 

Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Wolfgram (Carmel, Ind./Guerin Catholic) logged six kills and Eliis had five. Sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Irmer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and freshman defensive specialist Hannah Hall (Centerville/Alter) chipped in nine and eight digs, respectively. 

The Polar Bears travel to Bluffton Tuesday for a match. ONU swept the Beavers 3-0 Sept. 7 as part of the Bluffton Spiketacular.