#11 Volleyball improves to 7-0 in OAC action after rolling past Capital in 3 sets

By Scott Beaton

BEXLEY — The No. 11-ranked Ohio Northern volleyball team moved to 7-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play after defeating Capital 25-15, 25-14, 25-12 on Saturday at the Capital Center.

Sophomore Madi Ellis (Delphos/St. John's) led ONU (21-4 overall, 7-0 OAC) with eight kills on 12 swings and junior Katie Wade (Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek) contributed 28 assists, nine digs, four kills, and four total blocks.

Capital (9-19 overall, 0-7 OAC) got 14 kills from Kirsten Jutte.

Northern never trailed in first set, utilizing a an 11-3 run to close the set at 25-15.

ONU had a slow start in the second set, but rattled off nine straight points to control the set, winning 25-14.

Capital opened the third set by scoring seven of the first 10 points. The Polar Bears responded with a 17-3 run to put the set and match out of reach.

Additionally, sophomore Hannah Irmer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) added nine digs and three service aces while senior McKenna Jordan (Toledo/St. Ursula) had seven kills on 18 swings.

Freshman Madison Kern (Loveland/Mount Notre Dame) registered five kills and six total blocks and senior All-American Chelsea Huppert (Bremen, Ind.) chipped in six kills and four total blocks.

The Polar Bears hit a season-best .347 with 40 kills, 95 total attacks, and seven errors while the Crusaders hit .034 with 29 kills, 118 total attacks, and 25 errors.

Ohio Northern returns to action Tuesday against Otterbein. The match is set for 7 p.m. in the ONU Sports Center.

A win in one of its final two matches would clinch a share of Northern's 26th OAC regular season title.