Champion’s 38 kills push women’s volleyball team past Albion and Manchester

OLIVET, Mich. – Sophomore Morgan Champion pounded down 38 total kills, and the Olivet College volleyball team had an impressive home debut today by rallying to beat Albion College and Manchester (Ind.) University. The Comets lost the first set in both matches before coming back to win the next three sets.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet def. Albion 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19
Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Olivet 1-6 overall, 1-2 MIAA; Albion 3-3 overall, 1-1 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was back-and-forth until the Britons used three straight aces to turn a 17-16 lead to a 20-16 advantage. Albion did not give up the lead for the rest of the set.
• The second set was similar to the first except it was the Comets who went ahead late in the set. Olivet led 24-19 before four straight Briton points made the score 24-23. Following a timeout, Champion terminated the set point.
• Albion held a 7-6 lead in the third set. The Comets put the next five points on the scoreboard to go up 11-7 and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the set.
• Olivet never trailed in the fourth set.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the match, Olivet posted a .222 attack percentage, recording 56 kills with only 26 errors on 135 attempts.
• Champion had a match-best 15 kills.
• Sophomore Madelyn Notenbaum finished with a double-double, 12 kills and 22 set assists.
• Sophomore Brittney Prince collected 11 kills.
• Freshman Brittany Matsumoto dished out a team-best 23 set assists.
• The Comets had three players reach double figures in digs, led by sophomore Gabrielle Mundt's 15. Senior Courtney Cronkright was next with 13, followed by Matsumoto with 10.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet def. Manchester 21-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-17
Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Olivet 2-6 overall, Manchester 2-4 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first set, the Spartans led until the Comets took its first lead at 17-16. Olivet led two more times, 19-18 and 20-19 before Manchester ended the set on a 6-1 run.
• In the second set, the Comets turned a 4-4 tie into a 15-5 lead with an 11-1 run. Olivet maintained the lead for the rest of the set.
• The Comets were never down in the last two sets.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the match, Olivet recorded a season-best .317 attack percentage. The Comets had 55 kills with only 16 errors on 123 attacks.
• Champion had a single-match, career-high 23 kills and .636 attack percentage.
• Cronkright posted a double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs.
• Notenbaum led all players with 35 set assists.
• Mundt was one of four players with a match-best 15 digs.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Champion's .636 attack percentage is the third-best in school history for a match.

UP NEXT

• Olivet welcomes Trine (Ind.) University to The Cutler Event Center next Wednesday, Sept. 13. First serve is 6:30 p.m.