Box Score Fresh off its first OAC road win since 2010 the John Carroll University volleyball team headed to Alliance in search of a signature win against the ninth-ranked University of Mount Union.

The young Blue Streaks, who featured four freshmen and a sophomore in the starting lineup came out hungry for the upset taking the first set before falling 25-19, 15-25, 18-25, 8-25. Mount Union improved to 23-3, 4-0 OAC while John Carroll dropped to 14-8, 2-2 OAC.

John Carroll took control from the start in the first set with Sarah Orlandi serving up back-to-back aces to put John Carroll ahead for good. The Purple Raiders cut the lead to three at 21-18 but the Blue Streaks would not be denied the set. Kills by Leah Switalski, Kit O'Shaughnessy and Maddie McDowell coupled with Orlandi's third ace of the set gave the Blue Streaks the set.

Mount Union's hitters heated up in the second set out-hitting John Carroll .382 to .108 as the Purple Raiders' cruised to a 25-15 win. O'Shaughnessy's second ace of the tilt briefly gave JCU the 1-point lead at 5-4. Mount Union woke up and exploded out with a 12-2 run from which John Carroll could never recover.

John Carroll managed to stay within two during the early parts of the third set before Mount Union took off on a 5-0 run to open up a 7-point advantage. Four kills by Orlandi down the stretch looked to spark the Blue Streaks back but the Purple Raiders used .297 hitting for the set to take the 25-18 victory.

Mount Union rolled 25-8 in the fourth set to take the match. The Purple Raiders were aided by 10 Blue Streak attach errors.
Switalski led the Blue Streak attack with 11 kills. Orlandi hit .333 en route to eight kills. Sara Kaminski led the defense with 16 assists.  JCU recorded nine aces with Orlandi (3), O'Shaughnessy (3), Caroline Brower, Natalie May and Teresa Noewer serving them up.

John Carroll returns home to host Muskingum on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.