Volleyball moves to 4-1 in OAC with 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-12 win over Marietta

By: Andrew Korba

ADA -- Four players recorded 10 or more digs as the Ohio Northern volleyball team posted a 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-12) win over Marietta on Friday evening at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears have now won four straight and move to 15-7 on the season and 4-1 in OAC play, while the Pioneers fall to 11-14, 1-4.

Senior Jeni Kmic and sophomore Ellie Gillespie led Northern with 20 digs each.

Freshman Kristin Sessler added 19 digs and freshman Mackenzie Griffith finished with 14.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 14-11 lead in Set 1, but Northern responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead back at 20-14.

Gillespie and freshman Claire Heitkamp each had two kills during the run and sophomore Heather Saunier added a service ace.

Marietta would chip away and cut the ONU lead to 23-21.

But kills from freshman Kelli Weininger and Sessler gave the Polar Bears the first set.

Northern never trailed in Set 2 and a kill by Gillespie gave ONU the set by a 25-19 score.

The Polar Bears built a 16-10 lead in the third set, but Marietta battled back to tie the set at 16-16.

The teams would continue trading points before a late 3-0 run by the Pioneers gave them the set, 25-23.

ONU used kills from Saunier and Sessler to spark a 4-0 run and build an early 8-4 lead in Set 4.

Northern would close the match on a 9-1 run, capped off on a kill by Saunier to capture the fourth set 25-12.

Sessler led the Polar Bears with a match high 13 kills and Gillespie finished with 10.

Sophomore Anna Ricker tied her season high with six kills and posted a hitting percentage of .357.

Saunier paced ONU with 33 assists.

Rachel Hackenberg and Paige DeVriednt led MC with nine kills apiece.

Ohio Northern will return to action on Tuesday, when it travels to face off against Heidelberg at 7 pm.