Midland, Mich.- The University of Findlay volleyball team continued its winning way on Friday, Nov. 6 with a narrow 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 13-25, 21-25, 15-9) victory over the Timberwolves of Northwood University. With the win, the Oilers move to 17-8 on the season and 12-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while capturing the G-MAC North Division Title. Meanwhile, Northwood falls to 8-17 on the season and 6-8 in league action.
Findlay opened the match by taking the first two sets with relative ease before running into trouble in the third. The Oilers managed just 13 points in the set as Northwood gained momentum and shifted the match in its favor heading into the fourth.
The fourth set featured back-and-forth action, with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage until the Timberwolves pulled ahead 20-16 late in the frame. An attack error followed by a kill from junior
Lilly Barhorst brought Findlay within two at 20-18, but Northwood closed out the set with a 5-3 run to force a decisive fifth set.
The Oilers came out strong in the final frame, jumping ahead 4-1, but the Timberwolves continued to battle. A 4-0 Findlay run, highlighted by kills from Barhorst, senior
Hannah Miller, and senior
Abria Lomax, extended the Oilers' lead to 10-5. Findlay finished strong, claiming five of the final six points, with Miller delivering the match-clinching kill to secure the victory in Riepma Arena.
Both teams finished the match hitting .147, but the Oilers found another gear in the deciding set, posting a .393 hitting percentage while committing zero attack errors.
Junior
Stephanie Smith led the Orange and Black with 17 kills while hitting .262 and added seven digs. Senior
Hannah Miller continued to make an impact as Findlay's six-rotation outside hitter, recording 15 kills and a team-high 28 digs. She also contributed three service aces.
Junior
Lilly Barhorst added nine kills, while sophomore
Victoria Mescher chipped in eight and led the Oilers with a .368 hitting percentage. Both players also recorded two blocks.
Seniors
Zoya Winkelfoos and
Kirsten Bomholt continued to direct the Findlay offense, combining for 49 assists in the match.
The Oilers will close out the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 7, when they travel to take on the Chargers of Hillsdale College. First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m..
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