WESTERVILLE, OHIO - The Washington and Lee University women's volleyball team dropped their first match of the season on Saturday afternoon as they fell to Otterbein University in straight sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Otterbein 3-0 | 20-25, 19-25, 21-25)
- Otterbein (3-0) jumped out to an early 6-4 lead before back-to-back kills from Cara Hamil and Grace Mitchener, along with a Cardinals error, put the Blue and White (3-1) up by one. The teams traded points throughout the middle of the set, with neither side holding more than a two-point lead. A kill from Otterbein's Lexi Scott gave the Cardinals a 20-18 advantage before they closed the opening frame on a 5-1 run to secure a 25-20 win.
- The Generals opened the second set with a 6-3 scoring stretch that featured kills from Reese Gilla, Sienna Nichoson and Ava Gaines, as well as a service ace from Emily Schellenberg. Otterbein responded with a 5-1 run of its own to take a one-point lead before Ava Fugitt recorded a kill to level the set at 10. An ensuing 5-1 run gave the Cardinals a 15-11 advantage, but the Blue and White rattled off four straight points to tie the set once again. The run featured a pair of kills from Hamil, one from Emma Mulvaney and a service ace from Addi Johnson. Otterbein took a 22-17 lead shortly after with a 7-2 run before two kills and a service ace secured a 25-19 second-set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
- The Cardinals opened the final frame with four consecutive points before the teams traded points, with Otterbein holding a 10-5 advantage. Four kills from Fugitt fueled a 5-0 run to even the score at 10, while Nichoson added a service ace. An ensuing 8-1 scoring stretch from the Cardinals gave them an 18-11 advantage before a Mitchener kill halted the run. W&L cut the deficit to four with a 5-2 run of its own as Mulvaney and Gaines recorded kills and Mitchener registered a solo block. The Blue and White continued to battle, cutting the Cardinals' lead to two with a 4-1 run that featured a kill and solo block from Mitchener. However, Otterbein recorded back-to-back kills to secure a 25-21 third-set win and complete the sweep.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Lexi Scott (16) and Emerson Baum (12) led all players with double-digit kills, with Scott posting a .667 hitting percentage and Baum recording a .545 clip. Ava Fugitt led the Generals with eight kills on 16 swings with just two errors for a team-high .375 hitting percentage.
- Ashley Kefauver posted a match-high 12 digs, while Vivi Vasquez led the Blue and White with 10. Elise Adelman dished out a match-high 34 assists, while Sienna Nichoson paced the Generals with 14.
- Otterbein's Emma Steiger and Payton Powell, along with W&L's Emily Schellenberg, each recorded a match-high two service aces.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Blue and White suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 on the year.
- W&L recorded 29 kills on 100 swings with 13 errors for a .160 hitting percentage, including a team-best .250 clip in the third and final set. The Generals also recorded 34 digs, 27 assists, two blocks and four service aces in the loss.
UP NEXT
- The Generals are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 12 as they host the W&L Invitational. They will take on Gettysburg College at 11 a.m. followed by Southern Virginia University at 4 p.m.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
