It was not the start anyone had expected, but it was certainly the tone setter for the John Carroll Blue Streaks in a three-game loss to first place Heidelberg Tuesday night at the DeCarlo Varsity Center.

Box Score

In a match taped for broadcast for SportsTime Ohio, the qulity of the match picked up in the final two sets, but the opening game was a big reason the contest lasted just 70 minutes.

JCU fell behind by a 16-3 count in the opening frame and never recovered in falling by a 25-8 count.

Game two was a much better start, as the Blue Streaks rattled off six of the first seven points on the serve of Meredith McDiarmid, who was honored as the team's lone senior prior to the match.

But in a back-and-forth affair, Heidelberg pulled away from a 17-17 tie to edge the Streaks, 25-23.

JCU had another quick start to game three, using three consecutive blocks to build a 3-0 lead. The 'Berg answered back with five straight points and never trailed again in downing JCU by a 25-20 count to close the match.

Heidelberg (25-3, 7-0 OAC) won its eight consecutive OAC regular season match and its 18th in the last 19 dating back to 2008. Marian Bevington and Jackie Reinhart each had 11 kills and Venessa Haase added ten for the 'Berg.

John Carroll (15-11, 3-3 OAC) was paced by eight kills from Teresa Noewer. McDiarmid added 21 assists and 13 digs.