Oberlin, Ohio – Securing their first victory of the season, the Oberlin College volleyball team hosted the Crimson and Gold Quad on Saturday. Oberlin took Trine to four sets (25-20, 15-25, 25-15, 25-19) before sweeping Olivet (25-23, 25-15, 25-17).
"All of our hard work has begun to show itself in the win column with sets, and now we won our first match of the season. We're happy but not content. We saw what we need to maintain with our play and what we need to get better at to keep growing as a team," Head Coach
Jasmine Brown adds.
GAME ONE | TRINE
At the forefront of the Oberlin offense,
Mara Geiger and
Kira Geiger (hitting .478) produced 12 kills each.
Emily Spangler notched a career-best 32 assists while
Mary Ellen Lovelace tallied 16 digs and
Brylie Peters added 12. K. Geiger also performed well on the defensive end, finishing with a match-high six blocks.
With a slight 3-2 lead to start the opening set, a seven-point run extended the Crimson and Gold lead to 10-2, capped with a pair of M. Geiger and K. Geiger block assists. Maintaining the edge until 20-17, Trine recorded eight straight points to claim the first set 25-20.
Trailing 4-3, Oberlin posted six straight points to gain a 9-4 advantage with a pair of kills from
Nickiah Walker and a kill from M. Geiger. Constructing short rallies to widen their lead, the Crimson and Gold pushed to a 19-14 advantage. Oberlin pulled away with six of the next seven points to claim the second frame 25-15, capped with a service ace from
Genna Gauthier.
Maintaining a slight 11-10 deficit, Trine pulled away with a 9-1 rally and never looked back until they finished 25-15. Carrying their momentum from the third set, the Thunder jumped out to an early 10-1 to start the fourth. Behind 22-13, Oberlin recorded a strong push with six of the next seven points, but ran out of time as Trine clinched the set 25-19 and the four-set victory.
GAME TWO | OLIVET
The Geiger duo each led the Oberlin attack with nine kills each, with Spangler notching 28 assists. Earning some quick points for Oberlin, K. Geiger recorded five aces while Gauthier added four aces. On the defensive end, Lovelace posted 16 digs.
Returning to the court for their second match of the day, the Crimson and Gold got off to a steady start with a 7-4 edge. Tied at 7-7, Oberlin tallied five of the next six points with four kills and an ace. Olivet inched their way back until the end of the match was in sight with a 21-18 advantage. The Crimson and Gold delivered a six-point surge with a pair of Gauthier aces and a kill and block from K. Geiger to come within set point at 24-21. Halted by a pair of Olivet kills, K. Geiger closed out the set with a kill to win the opening set.
Both teams exchanged points to open the second frame with six ties until the score reached 9-9. A 7-1 rally from Oberlin extended their lead with kills from Walker,
Evelyn Welton, and K. Geiger and a pair of aces from Lovelace. Maintaining a 20-15 lead, the Crimson and Gold closed the second set with the remaining five points, capped by a block from M. Geiger and Walker.
Olivet began the third session with a slight advantage at 6-3. The Yeowomen delivered an eight-point surge to pull ahead to 11-6. Oberlin continued to hold the visitors to short rallies, clinching the match by finishing the final set 25-17 and hitting .414.
Oberlin returns to action on Tuesday, September 22, when they take on Kent State Tuscarawas on the road. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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