Oberlin, Ohio – Producing nail-biting back-and-forth action in the final home contest of the season, the Oberlin College volleyball team took Kalamazoo to five sets on Wednesday evening.
A strong performance from both sides of the net, Oberlin finished the evening hitting .289, with a match-high .417 in the third frame.
Mara Geiger led the Crimson and Gold attack with 19 kills, while
Brylie Peters (17) and
Kira Geiger (14) also recorded double-digit kills, with K. Geiger hitting an impressive .500.
Mimi Spangler posted a career-high 44 assists while also delivering 11 digs.
Genna Gauthier and Peters each registered a trio of service aces while K. Geiger tallied a pair of aces.
Mary Ellen Lovelace defended the backline with 15 digs while K. Geiger aided in the defensive efforts with a trio of blocks.
Kalamazoo claimed the first two points as Oberlin responded with back-to-back kills from M. Geiger. The Hornets used a 5-1 rally to tie Oberlin 11-11, initiating the Crimson and Gold's four-point run led by an M. Geiger kill. Oberlin's offensive effort continued to control the game, but a block from K. Geiger and
Kate Budde sealed the first set 25-19,
Tied at 4-4, Kalamazoo produced six of the next seven points to pull ahead. The visitors continued to construct short rallies, with Oberlin registering their own with a kill from K. Geiger and a pair of kills from
Nickiah Walker. Running out of time for Oberlin, the Hornets claimed the second set.
Maintaining a narrow 5-4 edge, Oberlin notched five of the next six points, led by a kill from Peters. The Yeowomen produced another strong rally, with five of the six points coming from offensive plays to extend their lead to 17-9. The Crimson and Gold continued to maintain a commanding lead, securing the third frame 25-17.
Oberlin jumped out to an early 7-1 advantage to start the fourth set. Trailing 12-7, Kalamazoo capitalized on a 7-1 surge to pull ahead of Oberlin 14-13. The Crimson and Gold continued to fight, with ties at 14, 17, and 19, but a four-point push from Kalamazoo forced a fifth set.
Tied again at 4-4, the Hornets delivered five straight points to gain a sturdy edge. Behind 11-6, a kill from Walker regained their rhythm to cut the edge to 12-11. Following a Kalamazoo kill, Oberlin added kills from Spanger and Peters to tie the visitors. A tight contest to the very end, Kalamazoo recorded the next two points to claim the five-set victory.
The Crimson and Gold return to action on Friday, November 6, when they travel to Geneva for a double header. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m., with a neutral match against Waynesburg to follow at 6 p.m.
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