UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Everybody breathe.
The Heidelberg University Volleyball team recovered from a disastrous first set to beat host John Carroll, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17). The much-needed win snapped a seven-game skid and lifted HU's record to 12-9 overall, 1-1 in the OAC.
Grace Porter enjoyed a magnificent night, notching nine kills on 15 swings -- good for a .533 attack percentage.
Lexi Evak was errorless, hitting 7-0-16 for .438.
Lexi Wachtman,
Anamya Truex and
Riley Tople also added seven kills apiece.
Maddie Reed and
Nicole Thomas both picked up five aces. Reed added 11 assists while
Bridgette Burrus led the way with 21. Thomas finished with 15 digs, tying
Grace Dohanyos for the team lead.
Heidelberg got pummeled in the opening set, with JCU using several big runs to separate from the Student Princes.
The Berg settled in during the second set. HU opened up a massive lead with a 12-1 run that featured three aces by
Maddie Reed. Leading 24-14, HU allowed the Blue Streaks to stave off five set points before Truex settled the second set with a kill.
The Tricolor rolled the momentum into the third set, enjoying a sizeable 13-7 lead after a 7-0 run. Leading by as many as nine in the set, Heidelberg watched as its lead shrank to five -- prompting a time out. The visitors prevailed, closing the set on kills by the Lexis -- Wachtman and Evak.
The fourth set was tied at six before Heidelberg marched out on a 5-1 run. Later, they built the lead up to 18-12 before the Blue Streaks countered. After a timeout at 18-16, HU scored the next four points -- prompting veteran JCU Head Coach Michele Benoit to burn through both timeouts. Undeterred,
Nicole Thomas kept the train rolling with back-to-back aces that pushed HU into position to close the match. After a JCU kill, Porter capped off a sensational might with the game-clinching kill.
Heidelberg has won five straight and 11 of their last 12 against the Blue Streaks.
The Berg enjoyed a 14-5 edge in service aces and a 7-4 edge in blocks.
The Student Princes visit Mount Union on Saturday. The opening serve in Alliance is scheduled for 1 p.m.
