Kalamazoo, Michigan – Taking a non-conference match to a five-set thriller on the road, the Oberlin College volleyball team ultimately fell to Kalamazoo 3-2 (16-25, 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 15-8).
 
Zeynep Kaya had a breakout game, accounting for 16 kills, an ace and a block assist.  Leading the team in points was first-year Mara Geiger who scored 17.0 for the Crimson and Gold with 15 kills and a pair of aces. The assist committee of Jillian Jendsen and Genna Gauthier continued their balanced performances with 22 and 21 assists, respectively.
 
On the defensive side of the net, Evelyn Welton grabbed the only solo block for the Yeowomen. Lucy Goebel and Kaya shared a block assist. Iris Archibald led the team in digs with 29, followed by Brylie Peters with 12 and Jendsen and Geiger, who both recorded 11.
 
The Jendsen-Geiger connection earned Oberlin the first kill of the match to take the coveted 1-0 lead. The set stayed even until Oberlin finally took a sizable lead at 11-6 when Goebel scored back-to-back kills. The Crimson and Gold cruised the the rest of the frame, pacing just ahead of the Hornets to grab a 25-16 victory.
 
Kalamazoo responded with consecutive wins in the second and third sets, highlighted by a 10-2 run to close the third frame. Down 2-1, Oberlin bounced back in the fourth to tie the match. The comeback was sparked by a 4-0 run to bring the set to a 15-15 tie behind kills from Peters and Kaya. The momentum carried on with two aces from Welton to claim the lead and ultimately, the victory.
 
In the deciding set, Oberlin found themselves in an early hole. A slew of errors from Kalamazoo gave the Crimson and Gold a boost, but Oberlin continued to see their momentum drain after the Hornets strung together a six-point run to take a 12-5 lead. The Yeowomen were unable to climb back into the match, and fell to Kalamazoo 15-8 in the fifth.
 
Oberlin returns to North Coast action for their next match, against Denison on Wednesday, October 29. The Big Red come to Oberlin for a 7 p.m. nightcap.
 
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