Cedarville, Ohio- The University of Findlay volleyball team battled hard in the Great Midwest Volleyball Championship semifinal but fell short against the Ohio Dominican Panthers in four sets (24-26, 26-24, 25-15, 25-22) at the Callan Athletic Center on Friday, Nov. 21. Despite a strong start and moments of resilience, Findlay couldn't overcome Ohio Dominican's balanced attack and stout blocking presence. The Oilers bow out of the tournament at 23-5 overall while the Panthers advance to tomorrow's final with a 25-5 record on the season.

A thrilling opener featured 16 ties and seven lead changes. Findlay surged late behind aggressive swings and an ace from sophomore Grace Auer, eventually closing the set with back-to-back kills to take a 1-0 lead.

The Oilers built a 21-15 advantage in the second set with strong serving and quick offense, but ODU stormed back with a 6-0 run. Despite two set-point chances, Findlay fell 24-26 after consecutive attack errors to even the match at 1-1.

Momentum swung sharply as ODU dominated early, racing to a 9-2 lead in the third set. Findlay struggled offensively, hitting just .026 in the frame, while ODU's front line controlled the net. Despite a brief spark from the Oilers midway through, the Panthers closed on a 7-2 run to take a commanding 2-1 lead.

Findlay fought to extend the match, trading points through 12 ties in the fourth. The Oilers tied it at 19-19, but ODU closed on a 6-3 run to seal the match at 3-1.

The Oilers finished with 55 kills on a .177 hitting percentage, adding 53 assists and 61 digs. The Oilers posted four blocks and six service aces but struggled against Ohio Dominican's size at the net. ODU matched Findlay with 55 kills but hit .271 and recorded twelve blocks, along with 65 digs and seven aces, giving them the edge in key moments.

Senior Makenna Belcher powered the Orange and Black with 20 kills on a .259 hitting percentage. Auer added 13 kills, three aces, and nine digs to round out a strong all-around performance.

Junior libero Hannah Miller anchored the defense with a match-high 20 digs. Senior setter Emma White contributed 13 digs and directed the UF offense with 43 assists, surpassing 5,000 career assists. She now ranks third all-time at Findlay.

Findlay, ranked second in the latest NCAA Regional Rankings, now awaits its fate for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Volleyball Regional. The selection show will air at 7:30 pm on Monday, Nov. 24.