The Big Red volleyball team suffered a 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22) setback at Ohio Northern on Tuesday night in Ada, Ohio.

The Polar Bears led by as many as six twice in the opening set before a 7-0 run put DU in front for the first time at 18-17, which forced ONU to call its final timeout.  The run featured two kills by Rachele Lock, one each from Elsa Manning and Leah Reinfranck, and a trio of attacking errors by the home team. With the set tied at 23-23, Ohio Northern edged out a win thanks to a double block by Ellie Gillespie and Kaitlann Hogrefe and a kill by Emily Beasley.

DU fell behind by as many as four on two occasions before rallying to tie the second set at 8-8. The Polar Bears slowly rebuilt a five-point lead before another Big Red burst closed the gap, 20-17. However, a 5-1 run eventually led to a seven-point decision for Ohio Northern.

In the third set, Denison opened the scoring for the first time in the match, winning the first two points. After the Polar Bears answered to tie the set, the Big Red went on a tear as they scored 15 of the next 21 points to build a 17-8 lead. Ahead 18-10, Denison outscored ONU 6-3 to move one point away from taking the set.  Ohio Northern rattled off seven-straight points to cut an 11-point hole into a four-point deficit. Denison avoided the sweep when Jessica Borsani set up Elena Lein for her sixth kill of the set. Reinfranck also had five kills in the set, while Perry added four finishers.

Despite scoring the first point of the fourth set, the Big Red found themselves on the wrong side of a 9-5 score through the first 14 points. Trailing 12-7, a kill by Lein sparked a 4-0 run that shrunk the gap to one and forced ONU to call a timeout. Reinfranck also had a kill, while an Emily Marguerite ace and a double block by Annemarie Fischer and Reinfranck provided the scoring. Denison eventually tied the match at 15-15 when Lein blocked an attempt by Hannah Davis. The Polar Bears answered with four-straight points to take a 19-15 lead. The Big Red cut the deficit to one at 21-20, but a 5-2 run secured the ONU victory.

Lein finished with a match-best 13 kills, while Perry and Manning added 11 and 10, respectively. Reinfranck registered nine finishers, while Lock had eight and Fischer chipped in seven. Freshman Kaileigh Poe registered 27 assists, while Borsani dished out 24. Defensively, Marguerite recorded 34 digs to go along with two service aces, while freshmen Kristin Thewes and Kristen Brennan each had 14 digs. At the net, Reinfranck, Perry and Lein all had two block assists, while Lein registered the only solo rejection.

Gillespie and Davis each had 12 kills, while Lauren Hulette dished out 23 assists. Megan Nieszala had 33 digs, while Davis also posted four solo blocks and six block assists. Gillespie and Hogrefe also provided five block assists each.

Denison falls to 6-8 with the loss, while the win moves ONU to 11-6.  The Big Red opens North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday. DU will travel to Hiram for a 1 p.m. match with the Terriers. Denison will also take on Alma at 3 p.m. in Hiram, Ohio.