Women’s Volleyball: Olivet rallies past Kalamazoo in four sets

KALAMAZOO, Mich. –The University of Olivet women's volleyball team lost the first set before bouncing back to win the next three sets to defeat Kalamazoo College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) match tonight at the Anderson Athletic Center.

• Final Score: Olivet defeated Kalamazoo 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22
• Location: Anderson Athletic Center; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 11-10 overall, 2-2 MIAA; Kalamazoo 6-12 overall, 1-4 MIAA

• The teams traded the first eight points of the first set. After a 4-4 tie, the Hornets scored the next two points and did not give up the lead for the rest of the set.
• Backed by the service of senior Emily Keeler, the Comets raced out to a 7-0 lead in the second set. Kalamazoo battled back to trim its deficit down to one point, 16-15. Olivet used four straight kills – one each for seniors Morgan Dillon and Olivia DuFore, and two for junior Hayleah McFadden to increase its lead to five points, 20-15. The Comets held the advantage for the remainder of the set.
• The third set started out like the opening set, with nine tied scores. After the Comets went ahead 13-13, the Hornets scored three straight points. Olivet responded with a 4-1 run to level the score at 17-17. Following three more ties (18-18, 19-19 and 20-20), the Comets used a Dillon kill and two Kalamazoo attack errors to go up 23-20. The Hornets tallied the next point before two McFadden kills ended the set.
• Down 10-8 in the fourth set, the Comets put five consecutive points on the scoreboard. Kalamazoo came back with a 3-1 spurt to trail by one point, 14-13. Olivet answered with another 5-0 run to extend its lead to six points, 19-13. The Hornets closed the gap to two points, 24-22, before a kill by sophomore Violet Porter closed out the set and match for the Comets.

• For the match, Olivet had three players reach double digits in kills.
• Junior Abi Nunez led the way with 16, followed by McFadden (14) and Dillon (13).
• McFadden posted a team-best .353 attack percentage.
• Junior Teagan Giannunzio dished out 52 set assists.
• Sophomore Jaydn Cary topped the defense with 27 digs.
• Also tallying a double-digit total in digs were Keeler (14), Giannunzio (13) and junior Maddie Reynolds (10).

• Olivet is on the road next Wednesday to play Calvin University. First serve at Van Noord Arena is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.