BEREA, Ohio – In comeback fashion, the No. 4 seeded Baldwin Wallace University volleyball team defeated the No. 5 seeded Heidelberg University, in a thrilling five set Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal match in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.
These two met for in an OAC match on October 9, with BW (27-4) claiming a 3-1 victory over theHeidelberg (20-10).
This victory marks the first OAC tournament victory since 2016, when BW defeated John Carroll University in straight sets.
The Yellow Jacket offensive attack was led by sophomore utility player Sam Pruett (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) and freshman outside hitter Ivy Earl (Howell), who had 17 and 15 kills respectively. The duo of senior setter Ashley Nuding (Perrysburg/Springfield) and sophomore setter Kathleen Egan (Cleveland/Beaumont) combined for 55 of the Yellow Jackets 58 assists.
Senior three-time All-OAC and Academic All-OAC Alicia Lortcher (Norwalk) set a personal best 37 digs to protect the hard for BW. Sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Reinhard (Willoughby/South) tallied 35 digs. Also recording double digit kills were Earl, with 10, and Nuding, with 12. The Yellow Jackets had their best night protecting the net, accumulating 20 blocks as a team. Sophomore middle hitter Taylor Brown (Maple Heights) led the way with seven assisted blocks.
BW adavances to the OAC Tournament semifinals where they will play top=seeded Ohio Northern University on Tuesday, November 1 in the the ONU Sports Center at 7 p.m.
