Volleyball team drops three-set match at Saint Mary’s

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Olivet College volleyball team dropped a three-set Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) match to Saint Mary's (Ind.) College tonight at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Ind. The Belles won by scores of 25-19, 25-20 and 25-23.

After a 6-6 tie in the first set, Saint Mary's scored four straight points to go up 10-6 and never look back en route to the set win. The Belles led by one point, 16-15, in the second set before scoring five of the next six points to take a 21-16 lead, and the Comets would not get any closer.

The third set was back-and-forth, with Olivet leading by two points four times and eventually taking its largest lead of the set, 22-19. The Comets still led 23-21 but Saint Mary's scored four straight points on four consecutive kills to steal the set and win the match.

Overall for the match, Olivet had a season-best .200 hitting percentage with 31 kills, 14 attack errors on 85 attempts. The Comets also recorded two more blocks than the Belles. Both teams had three service aces.

Freshman Lydia Drikakis (Battle Creek/Lakeview) finished with a team-leading eight kills. Junior Stefanie Lange (Valparaiso, Ind.) was next with seven, followed by sophomore Emma Brann (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) and junior Tina Westendorp (Nashville/Maple Valley) with six apiece. All four attackers hit above .200, with Brann hitting a team-best .286.  

Sophomore Taylor Pringle (Haslett) dished out 21 set assists. Defensively, sophomore Megan VanderVlucht (McBain) topped the team with six digs. At the line, Lang served up three aces.

Olivet will host Albion College tomorrow afternoon. First serve inside The Cutler Event Center is 4 p.m.