Oilers Snap Win Streak | Fall to Ashland on the Road
Ashland, Ohio – The University of Findlay volleyball team headed west tonight, Oct. 7 for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) matchup against Ashland University. Both teams came into the match with high stakes, as the Oilers had won ten straight and the Eagles had won eleven straight. However, the Oilers faltered for the first time in twenty-eight days. Ashland defeated Findlay 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-15). Findlay now holds a 12-8 overall record and falls to 9-1 in conference play. Meanwhile, Ashland moves to 15-5 on the season and 10-0 in the G-MAC.
In the first set, the Oilers got off to a slow start. Ashland was able to pick up the first three points to take the lead which they held almost the entire set. The Oilers did take their only lead at 12-11 but the Eagles went on a 7-2 run to take back the momentum of the set which the Oilers could never recover from.
Over the next two sets, the Eagles took control. Ashland opened the second set with an 11-3 run. The Oilers were never able to catch the Eagles as Ashland would win the set by eleven points. In the third, both teams were back-and-forth but Ashland would go on a 5-1 run midway through the set to once again leave the Oilers fighting from behind. The Eagles would go on to win the set after back-to-back attack errors from the Oilers.
As a team, Findlay hit .223, picking up 37 kills and making 14 errors. On the other side, Ashland hit an impressive .398 in the match and recorded 43 kills with only 4 errors.
Sophomore Journey Blevins, who has won four consecutive G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week awards, led the way with 14 kills on Friday and was third on the team with eight digs. Senior Norah Painter tallied 7 kills and hit .278.
Freshman Emma White added 29 assists on the night and also added seven digs. Findlay's leader in that category was sophomore Ava Doster who had 29 digs.
The Oilers will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 8 as they take on Northwood University at 5pm in Croy Gymnasium.