The Denison volleyball team rebounded from a season-opening loss to Otterbein with a pair of victories on the opening day of the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational on Friday in Delaware, Ohio.  The Big Red opened play with a thrilling 3-2 (25-17, 26-28, 12-25, 25-10, 15-13) win over Grove City, and followed that performance with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-18) decision over Manchester.

Against Grove City, senior captain Lauren Strowder posted a sizzling .425 hitting percentage in the five-set match.  Strowder logged 20 kills and committed just three errors in 40 attempts.  Also aiding the DU attack was Kristen Hughes who posted a season-high 11 kills.  Senior setter Claire Koneval dished out 55 assists and recorded a team-best two service aces.  Defensively, seniors Brooke Beavers and Brittany Brannon posted 17 and 11 digs, respectively.  Senior Megan Early paced Denison at the net defensively with two solo blocks and two block assists, while sophomores Lauren Gustafson and Madison Owen each posted two block assists.

Against Manchester, Strowder remained hot with a team-leading 14 kills.  Gustafson added six kills, while Early tacked on five finishers.  Beavers and Koneval each recorded two aces, while Koneval also dished out 29 assists.  Beavers led the defensive charge with 12 digs, while Early logged two more solo blocks and another block assist.  Owen also assisted on two blocks in the nightcap.

The Big Red will close out play at the 2011 Bishop Invitational on Saturday.  Denison will take on Earlham College at 10 a.m., and will close out the day with a 2 p.m. match against Wilmington.