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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Lexi MacDonald at ONU
John Carroll made clutch plays late in sets to beat ONU in Ada (photos by Brett Greer).
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 13-7,2-2
1
Ohio Northern ONU 12-6,2-2
Winner
John Carroll JCU
13-7,2-2
3
Final
1
Ohio Northern ONU
12-6,2-2
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JCU 26 25 14 25 (3)
Ohio Northern ONU 24 23 25 22 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Volleyball Upends #25 Ohio Northern in Ada for the First Time Since 2001

ADA, Ohio – After not defeating Ohio Northern in 21 years, John Carroll Volleyball has accomplished the feat twice in as many years.

The Blue Streaks shocked #25 Ohio Northern in Ada on Saturday, the program's first win over the Polar Bears on their home court since October 6, 2001. For context, back in 2001, teams played to 30 points.

John Carroll's first win in Ada in 16 tries came via thrilling set scores of 26-24, 25-23, 14-25, and 25-22. 

"It was an exciting win for sure," said Head Coach Michele Benoit. "We executed our game plan well. We rebounded from errors pretty consistently. Other than the third set, the whole team played well and with a great deal of heart. I'm super proud of this team." 

In the opening set, the Blue Streaks built a modest 5-2 lead, though ONU erased and snuck ahead, 8-7. Ohio Northern looked to be in control, building a 15-11 lead before a JCU timeout. Even after the break, the lead grew to 21-15 ONU. The Polar Bears then took the visitors to the brink at 24-21. But then the Blue Streaks found some magic. 

Jessica Liddle tabbed a kill and ONU made an error to get it to 24-23 before calling timeout. Liddle and Jennifer Follmer then notched a clutch block to tie it at 24. An attack error placed the set in JCU's hands. Ohio Northern took a timeout, but it didn't help. Follmer thundered down a kill for a clutch opening victory, 26-24. 

The teams began evenly in the second set, but JCU snuck ahead 12-11. Ohio Northern rolled for four straight points to 15-12, leading Benoit to call a timeout. The reset helped, but not at first. But once JCU's offense gained momentum, the Polar Bears couldn't stop it. Follmer, Natalie Glowe, and Mary Kate Sheehan. John Carroll fired ahead, 21-20, leading to an ONU timeout. The teams traded jabs, but it was JCU coming out victorious, aided by Follmer and Glowe's excellence. An ONU attack error ended the set at 25-23.

Backs against the wall, the Polar Bears roared for a 6-2 lead. Ohio Northern never relented, using an 8-0 run to establish full control. The hosts got back in it with a 25-14 dominant set two win.

The Blue Streaks stood unfazed in the fourth set. Benoit's battalion marched out to a 7-4 lead, aided by Follmer's fantastic play up front. Ohio Northern called time and promptly rolled a 4-point run. ONU and JCU traded 3-point runs, prompting Benoit to call timeout, trailing 16-14. Out of the break, John Carroll got on a roll. 

The Blue Streaks fired up a 6-2 run, powered in part by a pair of Jessica Liddle kills, pushed the visitors ahead, 20-18. ONU took a timeout and knotted things at 20-all, but in the story of the day, the Blue Streaks dominated late. Kendra Dziubinski provided three kills down the stretch, including the clincher. ONU's setter accidentally popped it over the net, and the sophomore tapped it back over quickly to clinch a 25-22 set win and the match. 

"Our team leaders led with a purpose and we built on our small wins and successes," said Benoit.

For the Blue Streaks, this is a huge team win. John Carroll not only advances to 14-7, but also remains in the top echelon of the conference at 3-2. 

Individually, Jennifer Follmer topped the team with 14 kills. Natalie Glowe also shined with 11 kills, while Jessica Liddle tallied 10 kills against just one error, while tabbing four block assists. Maddie Maziarz led the way with 30 assists, with Haley Nicholson following with 18. Glowe and Lexi MacDonald tied for the team lead with 15 digs, followed closely by Maziarz with 14. 

The Blue & Gold will get back in action on Wednesday, as John Carroll will host a tough Otterbein squad at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. 
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