WOOSTER, Ohio (September 18, 2021) – The Denison University volleyball team got two big wins on Saturday at the Ginny Hunt Kilt Classic, hosted by the College of Wooster. The Big Red swept No. 8 nationally-ranked Ohio Northern University 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-21) and then swept Roanoke 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-17). Named to the all-tournament team for Denison was freshman Daria Rodriguez.

Denison's Head Coach Carter Cassell said, "Today was a really focused team effort where we controlled the things we have control over. We talk frequently about making small, continuous improvement and learning form past experiences. I think today was a result of our commitment to those things."

The win for Denison (7-4 overall) over Oho Northern (10-1) was the Big Red's second win over a top-25 nationally-ranked team so far this season. It was also Denison's first win against ONU since 2015.

In that contest, Denison hit .368 percent in the first set and was off and running from there.

In the opening set, Denison led 12-8 after a 6-0 run and then held the lead the rest of the way. In the second set, the Big Red led 9-2 after three early kills by Rodriguez and never looked back.

However, in the third set, Denison trailed 16-12 before another 6-0 run, this one featuring four kills by Rodriguez, to take the lead for good.

Rodriguez finished with a new career-high 21 kills on a .354 attack percentage while Lucy Anderson had 11 kills and Corinne Boyd added eight kills with a .462 attack percentage.

Kirby MacKinnon dished out 39 assists and added 11 digs for her first double-double of the season, and was one of three Big Red players with double-digit digs. Jenna Corrao led the way with 24 and Payton McElfresh added 12.

Against Roanoke (5-10), Denison worked to limit the Maroons to a -.174 attack percentage in the first set. After dominating the first set, the Big Red pulled away late in the second set with a 6-1 run to win it.

Sidney Gossard led Denison with eight kills and a .571 attack percentage against the Maroons. She was followed by Sophia Sobota and Anderson both with seven kills while Anderson also had a .467 attack percentage and added six blocks. Carrao added 14 digs, and MacKinnon had 29 assists.

Denison will now bring its three-match winning streak back home to Granville, Ohio, as the Big Red host Heidelberg University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22, inside Livingston Gymnasium.