COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University volleyball rallied to force a fifth-set but could not hold on to a late lead in a 2-3 (32-30, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 15-17) loss to #19 Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday at the Capital Center.
CU (7-2) played even with the 19th rated team in the NAIA ranks for most of a match that lasted two hours and six minutes. Capital hit .187 as a team while Mount Vernon Nazarene (10-2) hit. 209. Both squads had 9.0 team blocks, but the Cougars took advantage of 12 service aces while the Crusaders tallied eight.
Capital was led by a double-double from freshman Emily Heitmeyer (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa Glandorf HS) with 14 kills while hitting at a .289 clip with 10 digs, two blocks and one service ace.
The CU defense racked up 115 digs as junior libero Sara Doebel (Clyde, Ohio/Clyde HS) led the charge with a season-best 28.
Senior Jackie Helm (Lancaster, Ohio/Fisher Catholic HS) posted 23 digs to go along with seven kills, five blocks a two service aces while freshman Lauren Gauvreau (Grafton, Ohio/Midview HS) added 14 digs of her own.
The Crusader trio of senior Kara Guster (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville HS) as well as juniors Jenna Zumberger (DeGraff, Ohio/Fairlawn HS) and Brenda Denlinger (Arcanum, Ohio/Arcanum HS) each finished with 10 digs on the night.
Offensively, junior Allison Hostetler (Dalton, Ohio/Dalton HS) led all Capital players with 15 kills while posting six blocks. She was joined in double figures by senior Kelly Steinman (New Bremen, Ohio/New Bremen HS) with 13 kills while hitting at a .500 pace and adding three blocks.
The Crusader setting duties were split evenly throughout the night as both Guster and Zumberger finished with 24 assists apiece.
Capital returns to action this weekend at the Volley Against Violence Tournament hosted by Westminster College on Friday and Saturday.