University Heights, Ohio - The Oberlin College volleyball team battled new North Coast Athletic Conference member John Carroll on Saturday afternoon, falling in straight sets to the hosts.

Senior Josie Macdonald paced the Oberlin attack, recording 13 kills for a .270 hitting percentage to pair with 15 digs, an ace, and a block assist. Rookie Mara Geiger tallied 10 digs, three blocks, including two solo blocks, and an ace. 

Performing well from the net and the backline, first-year Brylie Peters registered nine kills and 10 digs. The pair of senior Jillian Jendsen and sophomore Genna Gauthier split time as the setter, posting 16 and 15 assists, respectively. Leading the Crimson and Gold backline, senior libero Iris Archibald produced 17 digs. 

Trailing 7-3 in the opening set, Oberlin delivered five of the following six points, capped off with kills from Geiger and sophomore Lucy Goebel. John Carroll responded, notching back-to-back points to reclaim their lead, but the Crimson and Gold continued to execute strong offensive pressure to hold a 17-13 edge. A four-point run from the Blue Streaks tied the visitors as the two teams continued to exchange in back-and-forth play. Behind by one, John Carroll dished out the final three points needed to clinch the narrow 28-26 victory. 

Starting off slow on both sides, the Blue Streaks began to pull away to hold an 11-8 advantage. A pair of Macdonald kills led an Oberlin surge to claim a slight 12-11 edge. Tied at 15-15, John Carroll delivered six unanswered points to increase their margin to 21-15. The Crimson and Gold recorded the next two points to disrupt the Blue Streaks, but a final four-point run secured the second set for the opponents. 

Jumping out to a 4-0 lead to start the third frame, John Carroll capitalized on the early momentum to carry them through the set and never looked back. The Crimson and Gold fought to stay in it, seeing kills from Jendsen, Macdonald, Geiger, Gauthier, Evelyn Welton, and Peters. However, the Blue Streaks pulled away with the 25-14 set victory to claim the 3-0 sweep. 

The Crimson and Gold will resume conference play on Tuesday, October 21, when they host Kenyon for their Teddy Bear Toss match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.  

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