ALLIANCE, Ohio -- The top-seeded Mount Union volleyball team knocked off eighth-seeded Muskingum in straight sets (25-15, 25-20, 25-15) on Wednesday night to advance to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals.

For the Purple Raiders (25-5) it was their 10th straight victory.  

The Raiders and Fighting Muskies split the first 20 points of the first set but the Raiders responded by winning 12 of the next 14 points to take a 22-12 lead after an attack error by Muskingum's Lauren Tullis.  Then, with Mount Union leading 24-15, junior Taylor Webb (Geneva/Geneva) took a pass from freshman Kristen Kayser (Oregon/Clay) and ended the set with a kill.

In a more evenly played second set, Mount Union broke open a 20-17 game thanks to a kill by sophomore Mel Patterson (Mentor/Lake Catholic) and back-to-back service aces by senior Christine Frazier (Westerville/Westerville North).  Another Patterson kill with her team leading 24-20 gave Mount Union a 2-0 advantage in the match.

In the third and final set, Mount Union jumped out to a 15-6 lead and never looked back.  Frazier served six consecutive times midway through the set and Patterson recorded back-to-back kills with the Raiders leading 23-15 to end the match and send Mount Union into the OAC Tournament semifinals on Friday night in Alliance.

Patterson finished the match with a game-high 16 kills.  Webb followed with 10.  Frazier and fellow senior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) each tallied 17 digs.  Kayser wrapped up the evening with 22 assists, while sophomore Sarah Schleich (Westfield Center/Cloverleaf) had 19.

Brooke Scott and Hanna Rose each had six kills to lead Muskingum.  Kim Seitter had 21 digs.  The Fighting Muskies finished their season 15-17.

Mount Union hosts the OAC Tournament semifinals and championship for the first time in school history this weekend.  Second-seeded Otterbein defeated Capital earlier this evening, 3-0.  The Cardinals will play third-seeded Ohio Northern, who advanced to the semifinals after earning a forfeit victory over Baldwin Wallace.  Friday's match between Otterbein and Ohio Northern is slated for 5 p.m.

Mount Union meets fifth-seeded Heidelberg at 7 p.m., or approximately a half-hour after the conclusion of the Otterbein-Ohio Northern match, on Friday night.  The Raiders won the only meeting between the two schools during the regular season, a 3-1 decision last Friday (Oct. 26) in Alliance.

The two semifinal winners will play in the OAC Tournament championship on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.  

Tickets for Friday night's semifinals will be available at the McPherson Academic & Athletic Complex prior to the first semifinal and throughout the evening for $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and $2 for non-OAC students.  Tickets to Saturday's championship are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $2 for non-OAC students.

Tournament Information     Tournament Bracket     Live stats     Championship Program     Tournament Website

                              Short Box Score (Match)
                          2012 Mount Union Volleyball
         Muskingum vs #10 Mount Union (Oct 31, 2012 at Alliance, Ohio)

  Mount Union def. Muskingum 25-15,25-20,25-15

  Muskingum (15-17, 3-6 OAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Brooke Scott 6-0-2;
  Hanna Rose 6-1-0; Lauren Tullis 3-0-1; Katie Sidwell 3-0-1; Capreece
  Irby 1-0-0; Mindy McDorman 1-1-0; Totals 20-2-2.0. (Assists) -
  Stephanie Hinch 16. (Dig leaders) - Kim Seitter 21; Alexa Abrams 8

  Mount Union (25-5, 9-0 OAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Mel Patterson
  16-1-1; Taylor Webb 10-0-0; Kara Berger 7-0-1; Dee Glass 6-0-2; Nicole
  Snyder 6-0-3; Sarah Schleich 1-0-0; Mary Tout 1-0-0; Kristen Kayser
  0-1-0; Christine Frazier 0-2-0; Totals 47-4-4.0. (Assists) - Kristen
  Kayser 22; Sarah Schleich 19. (Dig leaders) - Christine Frazier 17;
  Kristen Gromes 17

  Site: Alliance, Ohio (The MAAC)
  Date: Oct 31, 2012   Attend: 103   Time: 1:04  
  Referees: Gary Hajek, Jim Sagenich, Kris McConahy
  2012 OAC Tournament Quarterfinals
  Mount Union advances to semifinals Friday night