GRANVILLE, Ohio (Oct. 26) – The Denison University volleyball team secured its second-straight conference sweep, a Senior Day victory over visiting Ohio Wesleyan, to improve to 5-0 in North Coast Athletic Conference play following Saturday afternoon's match at Livingston Gymnasium.
The win helps the Big Red remain perfect in the NCAC. Denison heads into the final week of conference play with a chance to lock up the top seed and hosting rights in the upcoming NCAC Tournament. Ohio Wesleyan, who entered the day looking to improve its position in the conference, drops to 3-2 in the league.
Denison secured the victory with set wins by scores of 25-23, 25-19 and 25-19.
Claire Hamilton posted a game-high 14 kills while hitting .333 for the match.
Maeve Perry reached double figures with 10 kills, three total blocks and compiled a .529 hitting percentage.
Alice Kempf finished with 27 assists and eight digs.
Ryan Kotalik recorded three service aces and seven digs.
Sadie Habeeb produced nine digs.
Katy McCaffrey had the team-high with five total blocks.
Both teams finished with 37 kills. However, OWU committed 21 attack errors to just 14 by Denison. The Battling Bishops outpaced the Big Red in total blocks (11-6).
Denison initially trailed 9-5 in the opening set before chipping away at OWU's early advantage. The Big Red eventually pushed in front with three-straight points, moving ahead on a block by McCaffrey that made it 15-14. Following a point by OWU that evened the score, Denison ripped off six of the next seven points to take control at 21-16. Perry accounted for three-straight points during the run. Although the Battling Bishops were able to close within a single point, the Big Red finished off the first set as McCaffrey and Kempf combined on a block to secure the set at 25-23.
The Big Red was able to use an extended run in the middle of the second set to take control. With the score even at 11-11, Denison ripped off six-straight points to regain the lead. The lead reached as many as eight points before Denison eventually secured the set by a 25-19 score. Kempf and Hamilton finished things off with back-to-back kills.
With their backs against the wall down two sets to none, Ohio Wesleyan garnered an early advantage in the third set. The Battling Bishops pushed out to a 7-4 advantage, but Denison countered with another run. Three kills by Hamilton coupled with a pair of service aces from Kempf, Denison surged into a 12-7 lead behind eight-consecutive points. The Big Red lead reached as many as eight points before the Battling Bishops countered with a run of their own to close within one at 20-19. Denison was able to finish strong and secure the sweep with five-straight points to end the match. A pair of kills by Perry wrapped around an ace by Kotalik finished things off.
Denison honored senior middle
Cailey Johns before the match on Senior Day. Johns has been a mainstay for the program the past four years. Johns currently has 469 kills and 133 total blocks during her career.
Up Next: Denison hits the road to face Kenyon College on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Big Red will wrap up NCAC regular season play next Saturday (Nov. 2) at Wittenberg.
