Volleyball: Olivet beats Allegheny, loses to Gallaudet at Worthington Classic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Olivet College volleyball team posted a 1-1 record today at the Eighth Annual Worthington Classic, hosted by Gallaudet University. In their first match, the Comets came from behind to down Allegheny (Pa.) College in five sets. Olivet then lost in three sets to the host Bison.

The Comets won the first set, 25-16, against Allegheny before the Gators rallied to win the next two, 25-22 and 25-23. Olivet forced a deciding set with a 25-19 win in the fourth set, and then won the match with a 15-8 deciding set victory.

As a team, the Comets pounded down 76 kills to 52 for Allegheny. Olivet also hit at a better clip, .265 to .166. The Comets were led by senior Stefanie Lang who recorded a single-match, career-high 27 kills. She had only five errors on 53 attempts for a .415 attack percentage. Junior Marissa Guile hit at .405 with 18 kills and three errors on 37 attempts.

Sophomore Gabrielle Trudell also reached double digits in kills with 12. Setters Taylor Pringle and Danielle Bearden split time at the position, with each collecting 29 assists. Sophomore Mona Hinamanu finished with 24 digs. Freshman Courtney Cronkright and junior Dallas James had 15 and 14 digs, respectively.

Gallaudet defeated the Comets 25-19, 25-21 and 25-15. Lang recorded 11 kills, followed by sophomore Cassie Brown with seven. Bearden led the way with 16 set assists, while Pringle had 13. Hinamanu collected 13 digs.

Olivet will wrap-up pool play tomorrow morning against DeSales (Pa.) College at 10 a.m. After that, the Comets will play another match at 2 or 4 p.m.

NOTE: The 76 kills vs. Allegheny are the most in school history for a match since Oct. 9, 2004, when the Comets had 71 vs. Tri-State (Ind.) University.