CLEVELAND, Ohio—Mount Union women's volleyball opened its season with a four set victory, 25-20, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-19, over Case Western Reserve University Tuesday evening.
The Purple Raiders (1-0) were led by senior
Sadie Thomas (Maplewood, Pa. / Maplewood) and sophomore
Zoe Sweigart (Canal Winchester) with 15 and 11 respectively.
Junior Anna Macevich (Hinkley / Padua Franciscan) and sophomore
DeLani Durst (Clyde) shared the setter duties with 20 assists and 19 assists. Senior
Averi Haley (Orrville) and junior
Sam Cantrell (Eastlake / Eastlake North) had double digit digs with 18 and 11.
Case Western (0-1) was led by Maya Zarow with 19 kills, Avery Basinger with 23 assists and Emily Goodpaster with 13 digs.
In the first set Mount Union fell behind 10-3 but responded with a 3-0 run to close within four. Case kept the lead at five with a score of 15-10 but Mount Union caused three hitting errors from Case Western, closing with two at 15-13. Mount Union then went on a 7-1 run taking a 21-17 lead as senior
Ava Bolen (Wellsburg, W. Va. / Brooke) grabbed two kills in the run. Mount Union closed out the set with a 4-1 run as Thomas finished with two kills in the set.
The second set Mount Union set the tempo taking an early 5-2 lead with a kill from Thomas, Sweigart and junior
Cami Welty (Willowick / Eastlake North). Case Western pulled within one at 6-5 but another Mount Union run of 7-1 pushed the lead out to 13-6 as Mount Union picked up two blocks and caused four Case Western hitting errors in the run. Case Western closed with in two on four occasions but Mount Union kept the distance picking up the 25-20 set win with Sweigart getting the final kill.
The third set was all Case Western as they jumped out to a lead of 4-0 and then 12-4. Mount Union went on a quick 5-1 run to get within four at 13-9 but Case Western responded once again leading 19-11. Mount Union made one last push to get close but Case Western closed the set out on a 5-1 run taking the 25-17 win.
The final set of the night went back and forth as Mount Union found a 4-0 run but Case Western grabbed a 7-1 run leading 11-9 early in the set. Mount Union tied it up at 11 on a Sweigart kill but Case Western responded with two straight kills. Mount Union found its way though closing out the set on a 12-5 run finished with a kill by Welty.
Mount Union now will return home to host the Mount Union Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Mount Union opens its tournament with DePauw on Friday at 7 pm and then Chatham and John Carroll on Saturday at 10 am and 2 pm.
