University Heights, Ohio- The Denison Big Red volleyball team traveled to John Carroll University to take on the new conference foe on Saturday. The Big Red, looking to snap its losing streak, aimed to knock the Blue Streaks off their six-match win streak. Despite a hard-fought battle, Denison ultimately fell in four sets, dropping to 8-11 on the season.

 

Up Next: The Big Red will travel to Chicago next weekend for Fall Break. The Big Red will play the University of Chicago(RV) and North Park University on Saturday, October 18.

 

Match 1 (Denison 1, John Carroll 3) (23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 24-26)

On the road against a new in-conference opponent, the Big Red took the court in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center against the Blue Streaks of John Carroll University. To kick off the opening set, John Carroll jumped to a 3-0 lead, only to be met by a fiery four-point run by Denison. The Big Red were able to grow a lead, but the Blue Streaks strung together a long run to steal back the lead. Down one, Ayla Dunbar recorded a kill to tie the set at 23 all. However, John Carroll was able to record two unanswered points to take the first set 25-23.

In the second set, the Blue Streaks were able to keep the momentum rolling from set one. The Big Red were able to make a handful of runs throughout the set, but ultimately fell just short of the set victory.

In the third set, Denison found an early kick of energy, catalyzed by kills from Ayla Dunbar and Claire Hamilton. Following three attack errors and a service ace from Alice Kempf, the Denison squad found themselves in the driver's seat. Maeve Perry and Alice Kempf recorded late kills, leading John Carroll to call a timeout with things knotted at 22 all. The Blue Streaks responded with a kill, which prompted a Denison timeout. To secure the third set win, Ayla Dunbar, Emily Monachino, and Carolina Parkhurst slammed the door shut to take a 25-23 win.

Staying in a flow, the Big Red were able to handle John Carroll early in the fourth set. After trading leads back and forth, the Big Red were able to get within one point of evening the match at 2-2. Kate Sicklick, Ayla Dunbar, Emily Monachino recorded major kills, and Sadie Habeeb punctuated the lead with a service ace. However, John Carroll rattled off seven straight points to down the Big Red, ending the match in a 3-1 decision.

The three-headed monster of Ayla Dunbar, Claire Hamilton, and Emily Monachino led the Denison kill column with 15, 14, and 10 kills, respectively. Alice Kempf, currently the second-place conference leader in assists, tacked on 23 more to her total in the loss. Sadie Habeeb logged 21 digs on the day.