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The University of Olivet

Volleyball team rallies to beat Albion in five sets

The Olivet College volleyball team rallied to beat Albion College in five sets tonight at Kresge Gymnasium in Albion. After losing the first two sets 25-13 and 25-19, the Comets won the next three sets 25-21, 25-19 and 15-13 to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Box Score
Volleyball team rallies to beat Albion in five sets
September 9, 2011

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College volleyball team rallied to beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College in five sets tonight at Kresge Gymnasium in Albion. After losing the first two sets 25-13 and 25-19, the Comets won the next three sets 25-21, 25-19 and 15-13 to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Albion led the first set from the start to the finish. Olivet led the second set 6-2 before the Britons scored four straight points to tie it, 6-6. After a 7-7 tie, Albion put the next point on the scoreboard and did not trail for the rest of the set.

Neither team led the third set by more than three points until the Comets went ahead by four points 20-16 on three straight service aces by sophomore Cassie McDonald (Battle Creek/Pennfield). Olivet did not trail for the rest of the set.

The fourth set resembled the fourth set, with both teams trading points before the Comets grabbed a 15-10 lead on back-to-back aces by junior Kristen Sharpley (Marshall). The Britons battled back and tied the set at 17-17. Olivet got the next point on a Sharpley kill and did not relinquish the lead.

Albion's only leads in the deciding sets were 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1. After the 3-1 score, the Comets scored six straight points to take a 7-3 lead. The Britons closed to within one point on three occasions, including 14-13. A kill by freshman Emma Brann (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) provided the match point.

Olivet used a balanced attack at the net in the victory. Brann and freshman Myranda Reyna (Marshall) each had nine kills. Sharpley was next with eight, followed by freshman Mackenzie Inman (Union City) and sophomore Tina Westendorp (Nashville/Maple Valley) with seven and six, respectively.

McDonald recorded a team-leading 30 set assists. Inman collected a team-high 21 digs, while sophomore Kaitlyn Salhaney (Caledonia/East Kentwood) had 19. McDonald and Sharpley finished with three aces apiece.

The Comets will rest tonight and then host Saint Mary's (Ind.) College tomorrow evening. First serve at The Cutler Event Center is 6 p.m.