Box Score
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – The Otterbein University women’s volleyball team suffered a three-set loss to No. 14 Hope College (Mich.) Thursday evening, falling 25-21, 25-22, 25-16 in the opening round of the NCAA Division III championship.
The Flying Dutch move on to play host Calvin College, who defeated St. Norbert in straight-sets. Otterbein ends the season at 26-6, the best in school history.
Hope stormed out to an early 5-0 lead in set one, and forced Otterbein to call a timeout after widening the margin to 12-2.
Otterbein gathered themselves and trailed just 17-11 after kill from Annie Juenger, and then prompted a Hope timeout minutes later after closing to within 18-14.
A slick kill from freshman Tabatha Piper brought the deficit to 19-17, and Otterbein again trailed by just two, at 23-21, before Hope took set one 25-21.
The two sides traded points in the early stages of set two before the Cards opened a 9-6 lead after a Hope hitting error.
The Flying Dutch evened the score at 9-9, but Otterbein responded with four consecutive points to force Hope head coach Becky Schmidt to use a timeout.
Otterbein held a 16-13 advantage, but Hope fought back as the set would see six consecutive ties at points 16 through 21, before Hope prevailed 25-22.
Hope opened a 10-4 lead in the third set before back-to-back points from Otterbein junior Ally Nagle temporarily halted the run.
Refusing to go quietly, the Cards battled back to within two, at 16-14, before Hope responded and extended the lead to 19-14.
Otterbein continued to battle down the stretch but would ultimately come up short, falling 25-16.
Junior Kristen Bennett led the Cardinals with nine kills in the contest, while Nagle and Juenger each finished with seven.
Piper performed admirably from her setter position, dishing out 24 assists to go along with five kills.
Seniors Lindsey Russell and Renee Willke, mainstays for the Otterbein defense throughout the last four years, combined for 22 digs. Despite the loss, both seniors couldn't help but reflect on the last four years of Otterbein volleyball.
“Tonight's game was a tough loss, but overall we had an amazing season,” Russell said. “We have grown so much as a team the past couple of years and have been able to accomplish so many of our goals. This program has meant so much to me and has given so many great memories. Renee and I couldn't have asked for a better group of teammates or coaches to finish out our volleyball careers with.”
“I couldn't have asked for more from my four years here, especially ending in the NCAA tournament and achieving the best record in the program's history,” added Willke. “It's been an awesome ride and this team has become my second family. I am so thankful to have been given the chance to be a part of it all.”
Freshman Jenna Grasmeyer turned in a match-best 13 kills for Hope, which hit .216 as a team compared to Otterbein’s .120 percentage.
