OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a thrilling five-set victory over Baker University on Tuesday night inside Wilson Field House. The Braves rallied twice from a set down to defeat the Wildcats, 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8. The victory moved Ottawa to 1-0 on the season, while Baker fell to 3-1.
Ottawa finished the match with 53 kills and a .187 attacking percentage while collecting 51 assists, seven service aces, 82 digs and 15 total blocks. Baker had 63 kills but committed 31 attacking errors and finished with a .168 attacking percentage.
Set One
The Braves came out firing, scoring the first seven points of the match behind the serve of
Bailee Nickel. Nickel had two aces during the run, while Ottawa's defense forced five Baker attacking errors. The Braves eventually stretched their advantage to 11-3 on a kill by
Campbell Stark.
Baker slowly worked its way back into the set and tied the score at 19-19. Nickel answered with a kill to even the score again at 20-20, but the Wildcats scored five of the final seven points to take the opening set, 25-22.
Set Two
Ottawa responded by taking control early in the second. Three straight kills by
Rilyn Conard helped the Braves build a 7-2 advantage. Ottawa continued to hold the lead and went ahead 17-11 following back-to-back Baker attacking errors.
The Wildcats rallied and eventually tied the set at 24-24. The teams traded points before Nickel put Ottawa in front 26-25 with a kill.
Kira Cherry followed with a kill off an assist from
Makela Martinez to give the Braves the 27-25 victory and tie the match at one set apiece.
Set Three
Baker jumped out to a 10-4 advantage in the third set, but Ottawa battled back. The Braves scored four straight points, getting two kills from
Haven Jones and two from Cherry, to pull within 10-8.
The Wildcats rebuilt their advantage to 17-11. Ottawa made another late push and pulled within 24-22 on a kill from
Asaiah Littlefield, but Baker closed out the set on the next point for a 25-22 victory and a 2-1 match lead.
Set Four
With their backs against the wall, the Braves responded. Baker led 9-5 before Ottawa began to chip away. Kills by Nickel and Cherry helped the Braves tie the score at 10-10, and Ottawa took its first lead of the set, 12-11, on another Nickel kill.
The teams continued to trade points until Ottawa broke an 18-18 tie with a Cherry kill. The Braves closed the set on a 7-2 run. Stark had two kills during the closing stretch, while Littlefield ended the set with a kill to give Ottawa a 25-20 victory and force a fifth set.
Set Five
Ottawa carried that momentum into the deciding set. Stark opened the fifth with a kill before she and Cherry combined for a block to give OU a quick 2-0 advantage. The Braves pushed the lead to 6-2, forcing a Baker timeout.
The Braves never allowed the Wildcats to get back into the set. A
Jezebel Hobbs service ace made it 8-3, and kills by Nickel and
Madison Brauner increased the advantage to 10-4. Ottawa reached match point at 14-7 before Stark delivered the final kill off an assist from Brauner, securing the 15-8 victory and the five-set win.
Inside the Box Score
- Campbell Stark led the Braves with 12 kills while committing just one attacking error on 25 attempts for a .440 attacking percentage. She also finished with two solo blocks and five block assists.
- Bailee Nickel finished with a team-high 13 kills, 15 digs, two service aces and three block assists. She hit .225 for the match.
- Kira Cherry reached double figures with 10 kills and totaled five blocks, including one solo block.
- Makela Martinez directed the Ottawa offense with a team-high 28 assists and added 11 digs.
- Madison Brauner had 16 assists and 15 digs while going a perfect 4-for-5 on attacks for an .800 hitting percentage.
- Carson Schuman led Ottawa defensively with 22 digs and added a service ace.
- Katie Bertrand finished with 10 digs, two assists and two service aces.
- Ottawa's offense improved throughout the match. After hitting -.083 in the opening set, the Braves hit .217 in the second, .195 in the third, .345 in the fourth and .368 in the fifth.
- The Braves held Baker to a .000 attacking percentage in the deciding fifth set, forcing six Wildcat attacking errors on 25 attempts.
- Ottawa finished with a 15-11 advantage in total blocks and a 7-3 advantage in service aces.
Who is Next
Ottawa (1-0) returns to the court on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Salina, Kan. at the KWU Classic. The Braves will play Oklahoma City University at 9:00 a.m. and Stephens College at 1:00 p.m. in Mabee Arena on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University.
