Golden, Colo.- The University of Findlay women's volleyball team traveled west to open their season at the Oredigger Classic, hosted by the Colorado School Mines. The tournament boasts some of the best competition in the nation, including #21 Colorado Mesa. On day one of the tournament the Oilers faced Augustana (S.D.) in game one and Fort Hays State in game two. Findlay picked up dominating wins against both opponents.

Game One (Augustana)
Despite getting the early lead in the first set, the Vikings rallied midway through pulling the score to 16-12, in favor of the Orange and Black. However, an 8-1 run by the Oilers closed the door on set one.

Findlay picked up right where they left off, taking a 9-3 lead in set two. Augustana managed to pull the score back to within two late in the set but three consecutive points gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead in the match. 

The Oilers struggled at the start of the third set, trailing the Vikings until four consecutive points gave Findlay the lead. They would keep this lead the rest of the way. A block by sophomore Kenzie Hoelscher and freshman Kirsten Bomholt put Augustana away, giving the Oilers the 3-0 win.

As a team, Findlay hit .278, picking up 41 kills and making 14 errors. On the other side, Augustana hit just .039, picking up 30 kills and recording 26 errors.

Youth led the Oilers in game one as freshmen Kirsten Bomholt and Hannah Miller made their college debuts. Bomholt recorded a team-high twelve kills in the match, hitting .308. Miller meanwhile recorded eleven kills of her own while hitting .231. 

Sophomore Emma White recorded 35 assists. Junior Ava Doster recorded twelve digs while senior Alyssa Rhodes chipped in eleven. 

Game Two (Fort Hays State)
The first set saw back-and-forth action as neither team led by more than two. With Findlay leading by one at 9-8, the Oilers went on a 10-2 run to lead late in the set. Their largest lead was eight with the score at 20-12. Despite a late charge by the Tigers, a kill followed by a block from sophomore Alana Pohlman, the Oilers took the first set.

Findlay once again jumped out to an early lead, one they maintained the entire set. A 5-0 run midway through the set gave the Oilers a nine point lead, needing just five more points to win the set. Three errors and two kills gave Findlay set two.

The Oilers trailed early in set three but two consecutive kills by Pohlman tied the set at eleven. An 8-3 run then gave Findlay the momentum to put the Tigers away for good.

As a team, Findlay hit an impressive .330, picking up 42 kills and making just nine errors. On the other side, Fort Hays hit .143, picking up 35 kills and recording 21 errors.

Leading the Oilers on offense was standout sophomore Alana Pohlman. Pohlman fired on all cylinders, recording 13 kills and hitting an impressive .667. She also added two blocks. 

Freshman Kirsten Bomholt picked up where she left off in game one, recording another twelve kills and hitting .286. Freshman Hannah Miller chipped in seven while sophomore Kenzie Hoelscher added five.

Sophomore Emma White recorded 34 assists, one block, and six digs. Leading the team in digs was Miller who finished with nine. 

The Oilers will be back in action tomorrow, Sep. 2 as they take on #21 Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines to round out their trip west.

Quote from Head Coach Wick Colchagoff
"Our serve and pass game won the day for us. Our freshman outsides played a big role in our sweep. Alana Pohlman was outstanding today- the best middle in the gym."