ADA, Ohio (September 3, 2021) – The Denison University volleyball team defeated Hanover College 3-1 (26-24, 15-25, 25-19, 25-23) on Friday night during day one of the Ohio Northern University Invitational to improve to 2-0 on its young season.

Set one was brutally close as Denison had to overcome match-point for Hanover (1-2) to score three straight points to win it. Those three points came on a kill by Daria Rodriguez assisted by Sophie Tight, a Panthers' attack error and then another kill by Rodriguez, this time assisted by Jenna Corrao.

Then after losing by 10 in the second set, the Big Red bounced back to win set three by closing it out on an 11-5 run after being tied at 14-14.

In the third set, Denison trailed 20-18 but used a four-point stretch featuring two Panther setting errors to take a 22-20 lead.

Hanover got back to within one of the Big Red at 22-21 and then at 24-23 before a service error by the Panthers ended it. Five of Denison's final seven points of the match came thanks to errors by the Panthers, while the other two were kills by Rodriguez.

Denison's Head Volleyball Coach Carter Cassell spoke after the match saying, "It was a really hard-fought match. We were a bit up and down and struggled to get into a rhythm early on. We displayed some grit down the stretch and made key plays when we needed them."

Rodriguez and Tight both recorded double-doubles as Rodriguez finished with a match-high 16 kills and added 14 digs while Tight dished out 32 assists and had 10 digs.

Corinne Boyd added 11 kills and Lucy Anderson had nine on a .364 attack percentage.

Corrao had a team-high 25 digs and Maddie Kurtz matched Tight with 10 digs as the Big Red had four players finish with double digits in digs.

Day two of the ONU Invitational on Saturday, September 4, will see Denison take on Mount St. Joseph University first a 1:30 p.m., followed by a big matchup against No. 16 Muskingum University at 3: 30 p.m.