SALINA, Kan. — The Ottawa University women's volleyball team turned in a dominant all-around performance Saturday morning, sweeping Stephens College 3-0 at Mabee Arena. The Braves earned the victory by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-13.
Ottawa controlled the match at the net, finishing with 41 kills and a .222 attacking percentage while holding Stephens to just 22 kills and a .009 hitting percentage. The Braves also finished with an 11-2 advantage in team blocks.
How It Happened
Set One: Ottawa 25, Stephens 17
The opening set was tight early, with Stephens holding a 10-8 advantage. Ottawa responded with a 5-0 run behind the serve of
Bailee Nickel. Nickel recorded three aces during the stretch and
Kira Cherry added a kill to put the Braves in front, 13-10.
Stephens pulled within three, 16-13, before Ottawa took control. The Braves scored seven of the next nine points to build a 23-15 advantage. Nickel accounted for three kills during the late push, and Ottawa closed the set on another Nickel kill for the 25-17 victory.
Set Two: Ottawa 25, Stephens 21
Ottawa had to battle from behind in the second set after Stephens jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The Braves chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the set at 12-12 on a kill by
Ciara Gray.
Kira Cherry followed with a kill to give OU its first lead of the set, 13-12.
The Braves continued to apply pressure and built a 17-14 advantage before Stephens battled back to tie the score at 19-19. Ottawa answered by scoring six of the final eight points. Gray had two kills down the stretch, including the set-winning swing that gave OU the 25-21 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three: Ottawa 25, Stephens 13
Ottawa left little doubt in the third. The Braves scored the first two points and never trailed, building a 12-8 advantage following a Stephens attack error caused by an OU block.
Leading 15-11, Ottawa broke the set open with a 7-1 run to take a commanding 22-12 lead. Cherry and
Lilliana Blackledge supplied kills during the run while the Braves' block continued to frustrate Stephens' attack. Nickel put OU at match point with a kill before Gray finished off the sweep with the final kill of the afternoon, 25-13.
Inside the Box Score
- Bailee Nickel led Ottawa with 14 kills, hitting .211. She also had 16 digs, three service aces and two total blocks, finishing with a match-high 18.5 points.
- Ciara Gray was extremely efficient, putting down eight kills on 13 attacks with only one error for a team-best .538 hitting percentage.
- Kira Cherry finished with six kills and three block assists.
- Campbell Stark had five kills without an attack error, hitting .455, and was a force at the net with six total blocks.
- Lilliana Blackledge added five kills while hitting .364 and contributed three total blocks.
- Makela Martinez led OU with 21 assists, while Madison Brauner added 13.
- Carson Schuman finished with 14 digs, while Nickel led the Braves with 16.
- Ottawa totaled 41 kills, 37 assists, six service aces, 65 digs and 11 team blocks.
- The Braves held Stephens to a .009 hitting percentage and 22 kills while forcing 21 attack errors.
- Ottawa improved offensively throughout the match, hitting .081 in the first set, .189 in the second and .412 in the third.
Who is Next
Ottawa (2-1) returns to the court on Wednesday, Sept. 2 in Parkville, Mo. against Park University. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
