Volleyball team splits two matches at Kean Cougar Classic

UNION, N.J. – The Olivet College volleyball team split two matches this morning at the Kean University Cougar Classic in Union, New Jersey. The Comets beat the host Cougars in four sets (25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17) before dropping a three-set match to Springfield (Mass.) College (25-15, 25-18, 25-19). For her efforts this weekend, senior Marissa Guile was selected to the all-tournament team.

Against Kean, Olivet never trailed in the first set. The Comets had a 9-7 lead in the second set until the Cougars went on a 5-0 run to take a lead, which they did not give up. Olivet had an early 6-2 lead in the third set. Following a timeout, Kean scored six straight points to go up 8-6. The Cougars continued to lead and held a 24-22 lead. The Comets rallied to win the set with four straight kills – two each from Guile and sophomore Allison Turner.

The last time Kean led in the fourth set was 11-10. Olivet put the next four points on the scoreboard to go up 14-11. The Comets' margin of victory in the set was their largest lead.

For the match, the Comets recorded 57 kills with 28 errors on 156 attempts for a .186 attack percentage. Junior Re'Gene Thompson led the way with 19 kills and a .244 hitting percentage. Guile slammed down 16 kills, while Turner had 10 kills. Junior Danielle Bearden dished out 49 sets. From the back row, junior libero Mona Hinamanu collected 26 digs.

Springfield led each of the three sets from start-to-finish. Despite the loss, Olivet had a .165 hitting percentage, recorded 32 total kills. Guile topped the team with 10, while Thompson and Turner had seven and six, respectively. Bearden contributed 27 set assists, and Hinamanu had 12 digs.

Olivet continues Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play next Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Hope College. The match from the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

NOTES: With the split, the Comets now have a 13-5 overall record. The 13 wins are the second-most in school history for a single-season. The school record for victories in a season is 22 by the 1982 team.