ALLIANCE, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University women's volleyball team faced the University of Mount Union for an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup in Timken Gymnasium inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Center. The Yellow Jackets (9-8, 0-2 OAC) fell to the Purple Raiders (14-4, 1-1 OAC) in four sets by final scores of 25-27, 25-21, 25-27, and 20-25.

SUMMARY

A block in the middle by senior Academic All-OAC middle hitter Isa Luciano (Willoughby/South) earned BW the 9-5 jump on the Purple Raiders to force the home team to a timeout. The Yellow Jackets stayed up four points late in the set, 20-16, forcing Mount Union to its second timeout. The Purple Raiders got a late advantage point at 26-25 and closed out set one with a block in the middle (27-25).

BW started on top in set two, up 8-3 to force a Mount Union timeout. The Yellow Jackets called a timeout after three straight points by the Purple Raiders, but BW still led 15-13. Out of the break, the Yellow Jackets grab three straight points back. The Yellow Jackets went up 23-18, but two points by Mount Union caused BW to take a timeout. Out of the break, a kill by freshman middle hitter Maleia Thurber (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) and freshman outside hitter Gabby Schlecht (Naperville, Ill./North) won the set for the Yellow Jackets (25-21).

After being tied 10-10, three straight points for BW forced a Mount Union timeout. The Purple Raiders gained their first lead of set three at 18-17. It was back-and-forth play for the rest of the set. Down late, the Yellow Jackets tied the set 25-25, but Mount Union closed the set with two straight kills (27-25) to go up 2-1 in the match.

Despite calling an early timeout in set four, trailing 0-4, BW outscored the Purple Raiders 8-2 to grab an 8-6 advantage, forcing a Mount Union timeout. The Yellow Jackets called their second timeout of the fourth set after the home team earned a 15-12 lead. Mount Union grabbed its largest lead of the match at 18-12, and went on to claim the set four win (25-20) and the match win, 3-1.

KEY STATS

38 - Sophomore All-OAC libero Lauren Gardner (Avon/Saint Joseph Academy) tallied her career high and led the match with 38 digs
18 & 14 – Schlecht posted a double-double and led the team with 18 kills and tallied 14 digs and two service aces
16 & 19 - Sophomore outside hitter Sam Rueda (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) finished with 16 kills and earned a career-high 19 digs
44 - Junior setter Olivia Zawadzki (Hilliard/Darby) finished with 44 assists

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets return to the court this Saturday, October 8 when they host Wilmington College for an OAC contest and for the annual Volley for the Cure match. First serve is set for 1:00 p.m. in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.