WHITING, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team rebounded from a five-set loss last week and defeated the Crimson Wave of Calumet-St. Joseph in straight sets on Tuesday night. 

Kills by Sutton Bate, Becca Bell, and Katarina Nikolic kicked off the offense for the Tigers as they marked 6 of the first 10 points.  Later in the set, Kills by Bate, Bell, and Nikolic sparked a 4-0 run as the Tigers extended their lead to 14-8. At 20-12, the Crimson Wave closed the gap and trailed 20-16.  Then, the Tigers saw kills from Anna McGovern, Bate, and Nikolic down the stretch and ONU won the opening set, 25-19.   

After ONU took an early 3-0 advantage in the beginning of the second set, Calumet took the lead 4-3.  With the score at 6-5, Crimson Wave, a kill by Carleigh Johnson started a 11-1 run for the Tigers.  During that lengthy run, Bell notched a pair of service aces while Halle Nicholas and Rachel Newport recorded at least two kills each.  The Tigers led 16-7.  After Calumet cut the Tiger lead to 19-16, a kill by Johnson, and a trifecta of service aces by Hadleigh Loitz sealed a 25-16 win for ONU in the second set.

The Tigers and Crimson Wave traded the first 10 points.  Unlike the first two sets, Calumet grabbed the momentum after that and led by a score of 13-10, until the Tigers took over in the middle of the set.  At 13-10, three kills from Johnson tied the set at 13.  Then, the Tigers kept their foot on the gas and scored the next five points, highlighted by a pair of service aces by Kaitlyn McMahan and a kill from Kaitlyn Kolb and Janelle Skinner.  The Tigers led 18-13. 

Despite a late rally from the Crimson Wave, a kill from Kelsey Todd sealed the 25-19 win in the third set and the Tigers took the match, 3-0. 

MATCH VITALS

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, CCSJ 19 | Second Set: ONU 25, CCSJ 16 | Third Set: ONU 25, CCSJ 19

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 6-4 (4-2 CCAC) | Calumet St. Joseph: 3-13 (0-4 CCAC)

Location: Rittenmeyer Center |Calumet College of St. Joseph | Whiting, Ind.

QUICK HITS

• Johnson led the Tigers with eight kills and Bate followed with seven kills.
• Johnson led the team hitting .800.
• Skinner led the Tigers with 22 assists and Loitz followed with 13. 
• McMahan led the Tigers with 18 digs, while Brianna Cannon followed with 9. 
• 11 Tigers marked at least one kill.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers host the 2021 ONU Holiday Inn Invitational welcoming Lincoln Christian, Trinity Christian, Kansas Wesleyan, Judson, and IU-Kokomo to McHie Arena on Friday, September 24^th and Saturday, September 25^th.  Action on Friday commences at 5 p.m. and action on Saturday starts at 9 a.m.  ONU plays on Friday at 5 p.m. against Lincoln Christian and at 7 p.m. against Kansas Wesleyan.  Please visit onutigers.com for the most updated information. 

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu