No. 25 Volleyball finishes Runner-up in the OAC Tournament as they drop a thrilling five set match to Heidelberg

By: Ashley Birchmeier

TIFFIN - The Ohio Northern volleyball team finished runner-up in the OAC Tournament as they fell at Heidelberg Saturday afternoon 18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13 at the Seiberling Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears fall to 24-6 overall on the season, while Heidelberg improves to 26-6 overall.

Five Polar Bears earned All-OAC honors for their efforts this season, junior Ashley Borchers, senior Kaitlann Hogrefe and sophomore Megan Nieszala would all earn First Team honors, while junior Claire Heitkamp was named Second Team and senior Ellie Gillespie Honorable Mention.

Nieszala was also named the Libero of the Year in the OAC.

Northern was led in the contest by Hogrefe, Heitkamp and Gillespie all with 13 kills a piece.

In set 1, Heidelberg jumped to an early 11-6 advantage but a kill from Northern's Hogrefe and a momentum changing block by Borchers and sophomore Haley Potters they would tie the set at 16.

The Polar Bears would go on to out score the Student Princes in the set 9-2 led by Gillespie to claim the set 1, 25-18 victory.

Set 2 started much of the same as the Polar Bears fell behind early but a kill from Heitkamp and a Berg miscue would lock the set at 7.

The Student Princes would extend its lead once more in the set but the Polar Bears wouldn't go away as a kill from Potters and a pair of Berg miscues would once again tie the set at 17.

After exchanging several points, Heidelberg was able to hang on for the set 2, 25-23 victory.

Northern came out firing in set 3 as they took an early 4-0 advantage off the service of freshman Taylor Emery.

However, the Polar Bears were unable to combat a late Heidelberg rally as the Student Princes would go on to win set 3, 25-21.

In set 4, Northern would steal back the momentum as a kill from junior Kristin Sessler and a service ace by freshman Michaela Sharlow would give ONU the 13-8 advantage.

Following a Heidelberg timeout, the Polar Bear attack would pick up right where it left off as kills from Sessler and Heitkamp would extend the ONU lead to 16-8.

Northern would not look back as a dominate performance from Heitkamp would seal the set 4, 25-19 victory.

After falling behind early in set 5, Heitkamp went to work for the Polar Bears once more landing two huge kills that would pull ONU within 13-12.

The Heidelberg attack, however deemed to much as they were able to hold on for the 15-13 set 5 victory.

The Polar Bears will await the NCAA Tournament selection held Nov. 9 at 11 am for a chance at an at large bid.