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Women’s Volleyball Falls to Mount Union in OAC Tournament Quarterfinals to Wrap Up 2023 Season

Photo Courtesy of Lincoln Earl
Photo Courtesy of Lincoln Earl

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