The Big Red volleyball team kicked off the 2016 season with a four-set victory (25-13, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23) over Earlham on the opening day of the Capital/Otterbein Tournament in Bexley, Ohio.

Denison cruised to a 25-13 win in the first set after closing things out with a 15-6 run. The Quakers rebounded with a tightly-contested win in the second set. Earlham jumped out to a four-point lead early in the third before a 14-5 surge gave DU an 18-13 lead. After the Quakers regained a 23-21 lead, junior Kaileigh Poe shrunk the deficit to one with a kill from her setting position. After Kristen Brennan served up one of her four aces to put the Big Red in front 24-23, Earlham tried to stop the momentum with a timeout. However, sophomore Isabella Pivec finished off the win with a kill off an assist from Poe.

The fourth set was another back-and-forth affair. Down 11-10, a block by freshman middle hitter Alex Tubbs sparked a three-point swing that put Denison in front of Earlham. The see-saw battle continued as the Quakers went up 20-18 following a Lauren Jackson finish. Now behind 23-22, Pivec was set up for back-to-back finishes to give Denison a 24-23 advantage. The sophomore right side hitter was involved in the match-clinching point, teaming up with Leah Reinfranck for a double block.

Senior Rachele Lock finished with a team-high 11 kills, while Pivec added 10. Brennan served up three of the team's eight aces while also collecting 12 digs. Poe handed out 25 assists, while sophomore Julia Miller chipped in 14 helpers. Lock led the squad with 18 digs followed by Kristin Thewes' 13. At the net, Tubbs finished with six blocks while Reinfranck and Pivec each had five.

Denison will close out the Capital/Otterbein Tournament on Saturday in Bexley, Ohio. The Big Red will take on the host Crusaders at 10:30 a.m. before battling Otterbein at 12:30 p.m.