Volleyball: Comets fall to Saint Mary’s in three close sets

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College volleyball team fell to Saint Mary's (Ind.) College in three close sets this afternoon at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Belles won by scores of 27-25, 26-24 and 25-21.

The Comets led the first set 15-7 before Saint Mary's scored seven straight points to cut its deficit down to one, 15-14. Olivet scored eight of the next 13 points to go up 23-19. Three Comet attack errors and a Belle kill tied the score at 23-23. The teams traded points until the score was 25-25. An Olivet service error and attack error handed the set victory to Saint Mary's.

Like the first set, the Comets jumped out to a big lead, 13-7, in the second set. Six consecutive points allowed the Belles to tie the set at 13-13. Saint Mary's surged ahead by three points, 19-16. Olivet battled back to force a 19-19 tie. The teams exchanged points. With the score tied at 24-24, the Belles blocked a Comet attack and then put their own kill down to win the set.

The Belles opened the third set with a 9-4 lead. Olivet slowly chipped away at its deficit before getting as close as one point three times, 14-13, 15-14 and 17-16. The Comets were never able to take the lead, as Saint Mary's won the set 25-21.

In defeat, senior Stefanie Lang and freshman Allison Turner each had 10 kills. Turner finished with three errors on 27 attempts for a team-leading .259 attacking percentage. Junior Marissa Guile recorded seven kills.

Senior Taylor Pringle dished out 18 set assists, while sophomore Danielle Bearden had 15 assists. Sophomore Mona Hinamanu led all players with 16 digs. Making her first collegiate start, freshman Morgan Romancky collected 12 digs.

Olivet returns to action next Wednesday, Oct. 8, with a 6:30 p.m. match at Adrian College.