Photo Courtesy of Lincoln Earl
Posted: Nov 07, 2023
BEREA, Ohio – The sixth-seeded Baldwin Wallace University women's volleyball team concluded its 2023 campaign as it was defeated by third-seeded University of Mount Union by a final score of 3-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals in Timken Gymnasium inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
BW finishes the season with a record of 12-13 and an OAC record of 5-4. Mount Union (19-7) advances to the OAC Tournament Semifinals as they will travel to Marietta to face second-seeded Marietta College on Thursday, November 9 in Ban Johnson Arena at 7 p.m.
BW Leaders
- Sophomore middle hitter Maleia Thurber (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) led the Yellow Jackets with a career-high 17 kills while also adding three block assists
- Senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference libero Lauren Gardner (Avon/Saint Joseph Academy) had a career-high 40 digs to eclipse 1,400 in her career and to move up to 11th place on BW's All-Time Digs list
- Senior All-OAC setter Olivia Zawadzki (Hilliard/Darby) recorded a game-high 36 assists in her final game for the Yellow Jakets
- Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Schlecht (Naperville, Ill./North) had 14 kills and 11 digs while junior All-OAC outside hitter Sam Rueda (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) totaled 14 kills, 12 digs, and three aces
- Sophomore setter Katarina Blazetic (DeLand, Fla.) tied a career-high nine digs while assisting 23 times
- Senior Academic All-OAC middle hitter Isa Luciano (Willoughby/South) tallied nine kills, three block assists, and one solo block
Mount Union Leaders
- Junior setter Casey Kildow had 29 assists and 21 digs
- Freshman libero Averi Haley led the Purple Raiders with 22 digs
- Junior right-side hitter Darby Leininger and junior outside hitter Heaven Bartell combined for 38 kills
- Leininger and freshman middle hitter Ava Bolen each had four block assists
First Set (MU 25-23)
- Mount Union led in kills 17-15
- Yellow Jackets hit .195
- Purple Raiders hit .368
Second Set (MU 35-33)
- BW led in kills 26-17
- Yellow Jackets hit .141
- Purple Raiders hit .159
Third Set (BW 26-24)
- BW led in kills 18-13
- Yellow Jackets hit .164
- Purple Raiders hit .217
Fourth Set (MU 25-18)
- Mount Union led in kills 13-12
- Yellow Jackets hit .122
- Purple Raiders hit .265