TIFFIN -- Two more opponents, two more sweeps for the Heidelberg University volleyball team, which went a perfect 3-0 at its own 2019 No One Fights Alone Invitational. On Saturday, Heidelberg beat Bluffton (25-18, 25-14, 25-20) and Mount St. Joseph (25-17, 25-21, 25-15). In the victories, a total of 17 Student Princes saw action.
Heidelberg improved to 15-3 on the season.
On the day,
Olivia Cristian led the way with 15 kills and an attack percentage of .444.
Maddie Szawranskyj added 14 kills and attacked at .448.
Amy Feczer added 13 kills and
Jordann Gudorf tallied 12 kills.
Anna McNabb had 39 assists and surpassed 2,600 for her career. Julianna Pena registered 29 assists.
Defensively,
Sarah Oney had 26 digs while
Taylor Valentine added 14.
Mya Morris and
Peyton Miller both contributed 10. Feczer picked up a total of 12 blocks.
Trailing Bluffton 11-10 in the first set, the Student Princes broke away with a 13-3 run.
In the second set, HU used a 5-0 run to separate from the Beavers early -- then removed all doubt with a 6-0 run later. The Student Princes closed on a 5-0 run.
After conceding the first point in the third set, Heidelberg would go on to take seven of the next eight points. With many reserves in the game, the Berg still cruised to a 25-20 win.
The final match featured the only 2-0 teams remaining in the four-team tourney. Mount St. Joseph, however, did little to stop the Heidelberg attack. Ahead 18-16 in the first, five straight 'Berg kills and an MSJ error pushed the lead to 24-16. Szawranskyj capped the win with a kill.
The Lions' best opportunity came in the second. Down 16-15, MSJ watched as the Tricolor rattled off the next five points. Undaunted, the visitors fought back and got to within two at 22-20. An attack error and an Oney ace helped the Student Princes escape with the win.
If the Lions felt momentum from their unfruitful surge in the second, it did not translate to success it the third. Heidelberg raced out to a 12-3 lead and waltzed to a 25-15 win.
Heidelberg remains at home on Tuesday. They host Kenyon on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match.