Olivet splits two season-opening matches at Great Lakes Cross Over

SANDUSKY, Ohio – The University of Olivet women's volleyball team began its 2024 season by splitting two matches at the 2024 Great Lakes Cross Over, hosted by Heidelberg (Ohio) University and played at the Cedar Point Sports Park. In their first match, the Comets rallied to beat Waynesburg (Pa.) University in five sets. Olivet then fell to Anderson (Ind.) University in three sets.

• Final Score: Olivet defeated Waynesburg 25-19, 21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 15-8
• Location: Cedar Point Sports Park; Sandusky, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 1-0 overall, Waynesburg 0-1 overall

• The Comets scored the first two points of the opening set and never relinquished the advantage. Olivet built its lead to as many as nine points at 20-11 before settling for the six-point win, 25-19.
• The Yellowjackets began the second set by scoring the first six points. Waynesburg held a large for most of the set until Olivet came back to close the gap to three points at 24-21. A kill ended for the Yellowjackets ended the set in their favor, 25-21.
• The third set was like the second for Waynesburg, as it jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. Olivet trimmed its deficit to two points, 21-19 before the Yellowjackets scored four of the final five points to win the set, 25-20 and go up two sets to one.
• The fourth set was back-and-forth until Waynesburg was able to seize an 11-8 lead. The Comets then went on a 12-0 run to go up 20-11. Olivet maintained the lead for the remainder of the set, winning 25-16 and forcing a deciding set.
• The Yellowjackets opened the fifth set by taking a 4-1 lead. The Comets responded with an 8-0 spurt for a 9-4 lead. Olivet finished out the set with a 6-4 run to win the set, 15-8.

• Senior Abi Nunez ended the match with a team-lead 17 kills and 21 digs.
• Senior Jaelyn Hampton tallied eight kills.
• Senior Teagan Giannunzio led all players with 40 set assists. She also had 14 digs.
• Freshman Ashylnn Giannunzio recorded 15 digs.

• Final Score: Anderson defeated Olivet 25-23, 25-14, 25-17
• Location: Cedar Point Sports Park; Sandusky, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 1-1 overall, Anderson 2-0 overall

• The Ravens led by two points on four occasions to start the first set. Olivet came back to take its own two-point lead at 14-12. Anderson answered with a 9-4 run to go up 21-18. The Comets did not give up and came back to even the score at 22-22. The Ravens put three of the final points on the scoreboard to win the set, 25-23.
• Anderson never trailed in the second set.
• The third set saw the Ravens take a 12-9 lead. An Anderson service error followed by two aces by Teagan Giannunzio and kill by Nunez put Olivet ahead, 13-12. The Ravens used a 7-1 run to gain a five-point cushion, 19-14. The deficit was too much for the Comets to overcome, as Anderson won the set 25-17.

• For the second straight match, Nunez topped the team with 13 kills.
• Senior Hayleah McFadden tallied nine kills.
• Teagan Giannunzio dished out 29 set assists.
• Ashlynn Giannunzio and junior Jaydn Cary registered 11 digs apiece, followed by senior Maddie Reynolds with nine.

• The Comets stay in Ohio for two more matches tomorrow at the Great Lakes Cross Over. Olivet faces Penn State University (Pa.) Altoona at 10 a.m., and Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College at 2 p.m.