WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The 14th-ranked Mount Union volleyball team outlasted the 12th-ranked Otterbein Cardinals in five sets (25-17, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25, 15-8) on Friday night to take over sole possession of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference. 

The win marked the Purple Raiders' second five-set win of the season.  They defeated then-no.12 Juniata (Pa.) in five sets on Sept. 14.

Senior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) led Mount Union with 23 digs and sophomore Lauren Mastroine (Orrville/Orrville) picked up 20.   Sophomore Nicole Snyder (Mentor/Lake Catholic) picked up 15 kills, while Taylor Webb (Geneva/Geneva) followed with 11.  Freshman Kristen Kayser (Oregon/Clay) had a team-high 25 assists.

The win improved Mount Union's overall record to 20-5 and a perfect 7-0 in the OAC.  Otterbein fell to 20-7 (6-1 OAC). 

With just two OAC games remaining, Mount Union has essentially a two-game lead over the second-place Cardinals.  They lead them in the standings by one game and the Raiders own the head-to-head tiebreaker.  The OAC Tournament Quarterfinals are on Oct. 30.  Mount Union plays at Baldwin Wallace on Tuesday (Oct. 23) at 7 p.m.