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

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College volleyball team was defeated by Saint Mary's (Ind.) College in three sets (25-23, 25-10, 25-16) in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) match this morning at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet.

Neither team led by more than two points for the entire set. With the score tied at 20-20, the Comets got back-to-back kills from junior Re'Gene Thompson and freshman Megan Black to go up 22-20. The Belles answered with three straight kills to take the lead back. A kill by senior Marissa Guile knotted the score one more time at 23-23. A Saint Mary's kill, followed by an Olivet attack into a Belle block provided the winning points.

The Comets had a 5-4 lead in the second set until a 7-0 Saint Mary's scoring run made the score 11-5. After an Olivet point on a kill by sophomore Courtney Cronkright, the Belles used an 8-0 run to take a commanding 19-6 lead and did not give it up for the rest of the set. Saint Mary's led the third set from wire-to-wire.

Thompson led the front row with five kills, while Black, Guile and sophomore Allison Turner each had four kills. Junior Danielle Bearden recorded 20 set assists. Junior Mona Hinamanu and freshman Ashley Lounds topped the team with nine digs apiece.

Olivet plays Kalamazoo College next Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.