Volleyball team splits two matches at Midwest Invitational

The Olivet College volleyball team split two matches today at the Midwest Invitational, hosted by Calvin College. The Comets fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Calvin College in three sets and rallied to beat Manchester (Ind.) College in five sets.

Calvin won by scores of 25-14, 25-12, 25-14. Against Manchester, Olivet won the first set, 25-22. The Spartans came back to take a 2-1 lead with 25-16 and 25-23 wins in the second and third sets. The Comets forced a fifth and deciding set by winning the fourth set, 25-13. Olivet won the fifth set, 15-6, to claim the come-from-behind victory.

Against Calvin, freshman Melanie Merchant (St. Joseph) led Olivet with seven kills. Junior Jenessa Hicks (Union City) recorded 10 set assists. Junior Megan McCarty (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) tallied a team-leading nine digs.

Against Manchester, Merchant posted a team-high 18 kills, followed by senior Kim Travis (Shepherd) with 12. Merchant also had two service aces. Sophomore Kendra Cavin (Jackson/Hanover-Horton) had four blocks, while Travis and junior Ellen Schulz (Freeland) had three apiece. Hicks dished out 23 assists, and freshman Chelsea Guzikowski (Reed City) was next with 19. Travis topped the team with 20 digs, and Hicks was second with 13.

The Comets will wrap-up the regular season portion of their schedule tomorrow when they host Trine (Ind.) University. First serve inside The Cutler Event Center is 11 a.m.