ONU SPLITS DAY ONE ACTION AT THE 2021 ONU HOLIDAY INN INVITATIONAL

Posted: Sep 24, 2021

Lincoln Christian

(1-11, 0-0)

Olivet Nazarene

(7-4, 4-2)

Final

Lincoln Christian (1-11, 0-0)

Olivet Nazarene (7-4, 4-2)

Kansas Wesleyan

(10-7)

Olivet Nazarene

(7-5)

Final

Kansas Wesleyan (10-7)

Olivet Nazarene (7-5)

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team opened play at the 2021 ONU Holiday Inn Invitational on Friday in McHie Arena hosting the Lincoln Christian Red Lions and the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes. The Tigers won their first match, 3-0, against the Red Lions before falling to the Coyotes, 3-1, in their final match of the evening.

First Match: ONU 3, LCU 0

The two teams played a very close first 17 points as neither team could grab the early momentum. Then, a kill from Carleigh Johnson and Sutton Bate made the score 11-9. After two Red Lion points, the Tigers went on a 6-0 run and grew their lead to 17-11. In the final moments of the first set, the Tigers saw great offense down the stretch from Becca Bell and Katarina Nikolic as the Tigers took the first set, 25-20.

Just like the first set, the Red Lions and Tigers were neck-and-neck and were tied at seven all through the first 14 points. Rachel Newport, Bell, and Bate each notched a kill. Then, four straight service aces by Johnson sparked a 9-0 run for the Tigers and grew their lead to 15-7. The Tigers did not let up the rest of the set as they took a 2-0 lead, winning the second set, 25-17.

The Tigers tallied the first five points of the third set, highlighted by a service ace from Kaitlyn McMahan and kills from Bate, Kaylee Cozen, and Halle Nicholas. The Tigers led by as much as six in the early going but the Red Lions closed the gap and were deadlocked at 10. The middle part of the set was back-and-forth as the two teams were trading blows. With the score at 21 all, the Tigers saw kills from Johnson and Bate as well as a service ace from Karsyn Delbridge and made the score 24-22.

The two teams battled at the very end but the Tigers pulled out a 28-26 victory in the third set and took the match.

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, LCU 20 | Second Set: ONU 25, LCU 17 | Third Set: ONU 28, LCU 26

Quick Hits from the first match

Bate led the Tigers with nine kills.
McMahan amassed 18 digs.
Janelle Skinner had 13 assists while Hadleigh Loitz and Delbridge tallied 11 and 10 assists each.

Second Match: KWU 3, ONU 1

At the beginning of the second match, The Tigers won 7 of the first 10 points and led 7-3. During that stretch, Bell amassed four kills. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas throughout the set and led at 17-11 until the Coyotes cut into the lead and made the score 17-15. The Tigers marked eight of the final nine points and won the first set, 25-17. Bell, Anna McGovern, Newport, and Nikolic each had kills for ONU.

The rest of the match was a different story for the Tigers as the Coyotes made great adjustments heading into the second set. The Tigers were down by as much as eight, but made it very interesting at the end of the set. Down 22-13, a kill by Bell gave the Tigers the momentum and struck for the next seven points and trailed 22-20. Unfortunately, the Coyotes fought back and won the set, 25-23.

The Coyotes took full control of the third set and never let up as they played very good offense and won the fourth set, 25-15. The Tigers trailed by as much as 12 in that set. With their backs up against the wall, head coach Daniel Cabrera's squad tried to make a push in the fourth set. Both teams were deadlocked at eight to start the fourth set, then the Coyotes took over and marked seven of the next eight points and led 15-9. The Tigers never recovered from that and fell in the fourth set, 25-20.

MATCH VITALS

Finals: First Set: ONU 25, KWU 17 | Second Set: KWU 25, ONU 23 | Third Set: KWU 25, ONU 17 | Fourth Set: KWU 25, ONU 20

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 7-5 | Lincoln Christian: 1-12 | Kansas Wesleyan: 10-7

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

QUICK HITS (Second Match)