Findlay Rebounds for a Win in GLIAC/GLVC Nightcap
The University of Findlay volleyball team split the day and improved to 13-9 after rebounding for a win in their second match of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLIAC/GLVC) Crossover in Aurora, Illinois on October 25 in a five set thriller in which the Oilers prevail over McKendree University by a final of 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22, 15-8).
Coming off of a loss earlier in the day, Findlay needed a win to capture a split and as their match with the Bearcats began, it looked as though a split was improbable as the Oilers surrendered six straight points and fell behind 8-2 in the beginning of set number one.
Findlay rebounded in the second set, winning only by two points and, at one point, trailing 22-19.
In the third set, Findlay was close to taking a two sets to one lead as they led 24-22 but gave away four straight points to drop the set.
It was do-or-die time and with the score knotted at 10, back-to-back setting errors by the Bearcats pushed the Oilers ahead 12-10 and that was all the momentum they would need as they never trailed the rest of the match.
Findlay was led by their setter, junior Amanda Calhoun, who played as incredibly as she has all season. The third year player was only two kills away from a rare triple-double as she gathered eight kills, 36 assists, and 18 digs in the victory.
Offensively, the Oilers had three players with double-digit kills, led by an outside hitter who has come on strong as of late, freshman Hannah Tong, who collected 11 kills. Junior Samantha Granger and sophomore Julie Lyons each put down 10 kills and had three blocks. Granger also amassed nine digs.
Shining defensively for the second straight game was Brittany Hall. The senior was on her toes all game and netted 23 digs. She also assisted on seven kills and served two aces.
Senior All-American Danielle Taflinger played another good game as well and gathered nine kills but more impressively, had five blocks, moving her into second in the GLIAC in that category.
The Oilers are back in action tomorrow, October 26, at 2pm as they wrap up their brief GLIAC/GLVC slate with a match vs. the Cardinals of William Jewel College.