UNOH Uses First Set Run to Top Volleyball in Straight Sets

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LIMA, Ohio — The University of Northwestern Ohio Racers defeated Marygrove women’s volleyball in straight sets, 3-0, Friday (Sept. 11) in Lima, Ohio behind a 9-0 run in the first set to kick-start the match. The Mustangs have lost seven consecutive matches since winning the season opener in Arizona against Providence Christian College and now stand at 1-7 overall (0-3 WHAC).

The Racers earned their first WHAC win of 2015 while moving to 5-10 overall in the 3-0 decision.

The Mustangs started Friday evening’s conference tilt faster than Wednesday, jumping out to a narrow 10-8 lead midway through the first set. The Racers battled back to take a 13-12 lead before Kelsey Fiely ignited the hosts’ attack with nine straight points on a stellar service run.

The 9-0 run stunned the Mustangs as the Racers pulled away to take the opening set, 25-15.

Momentum remained on the side of the Racers for the remainder of the evening as the home team swept the next two sets, 25-10 and 25-18, to win the conference match in sweeping fashion.

The Mustangs hung tough late in the match, trailing 18-16 in set three before the Racers cruised to victory behind a 7-2 run.

Hailey Brandes (Southgate, Mich./Anderson High School) and Rachel Staudt (Novi, Mich./Lawrence Tech) led the Mustangs with four kills each, while Brenna Donnelly (Yale, Mich./Mott CC), Paige Hughes (Belleville, Mich./Huron High School) and Hayley Jury (Plymouth, Mich./Ladywood High School) all checked in with three kills.

Jury had a team-best 13 assists to go along with 12 digs, while teammate Erica Wilson (Warren, Mich./Macomb CC) worked her way to a team-high 13 digs. Amber Kelly (Mt. Morris, Mich./Mt. Morris High School) chimed in with five digs and two assists.

Nora Fa’atiga recorded a match-high 10 kills for the Racers in victory.

The Mustangs will remain on the road for the second half of a WHAC back-to-back when they visit Cornerstone University for a 1 p.m. match Saturday (Sept. 12). Fans can follow the Mustangs live via Cornerstone’s live video coverage on portal.stretchinternet.com/corner/

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