York, Neb. – Ottawa University volleyball battled through five competitive sets on Saturday afternoon, earning a 3-2 road victory over York University inside the Freeman Center.

Set 1 – York 25, Ottawa 21
York opened strong, using a late 6–1 run to take the first set 25–21. The Braves hit .154 in the opener with 13 kills, led by Campbell Stark and Hollie Peters, who each registered three. Despite a balanced attack, a few unforced errors allowed the Panthers to close out the frame. Set 2 – Ottawa 25, York 21
Ottawa responded with a sharp performance in set two, hitting .250 as a team while holding York to .200. The Braves used a 9–0 surge behind Samantha Stahl's serving run—collecting three aces and a kill—to seize control early. Kira Cherry and Bailee Nickel added key kills down the stretch, and Madison Holcomb set the tone with steady distribution to help even the match at 1–1. Set 3 – Ottawa 25, York 18
Momentum stayed with the Braves in the third as they built an early lead and never trailed. Ottawa's offense was efficient (.235), powered by Stark, Nickel, and Peters, who each tallied multiple kills. The Braves' serving proved decisive again, with Nickel recording three aces in the set. A late block from Stark and Nickel capped the 25–18 win and put OU ahead 2–1. Set 4 – York 25, Ottawa 21
York bounced back in the fourth, capitalizing on Ottawa's attack miscues. Despite strong swings from Peters and Stark, the Panthers' front line—led by Brianna Lemke—kept Ottawa at bay. York's .226 hitting percentage was its second-best of the night, forcing a decisive fifth set. Set 5 – Ottawa 15, York 13
The final set was a back-and-forth battle. Ottawa jumped out to an early 5–2 lead, only to see York rally to tie at 9–9. The Braves regained momentum on a Nickel kill and Madison Brauner's service ace, edging ahead 14–13. Stark sealed the match with her 15th kill, giving Ottawa the 15–13 victory. By the Numbers

• Campbell Stark: 15 kills (.519), 5 block assists, 17.5 points
• Bailee Nickel: 12 kills, 4 service aces, 15 digs, 17.0 points
• Hollie Peters: 12 kills (.310), 12.5 points
• Samantha Stahl: 9 kills, 5 aces, 11 digs, 14.0 points
• Madison Brauner: 24 assists, 6 digs
• Madison Holcomb: 31 assists, 6 digs
• Team Stats: 61 kills, .211 hitting percentage, 12 aces, 14 total blocks

Who is Next
Ottawa (8-11, 5-4) returns to the court on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Wichita, Kan. against Friends University. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.