COLUMBUS, Ohio - Capital University's volleyball team dropped an Ohio Athletic Conference match in straight sets (13-25, 23-25, 17-25) to Muskingum College Tuesday in The Capital Center.
The Crusaders drop to 24-7 and 5-3 in OAC play, while the Muskies improved to 21-5 (5-3 OAC). Capital will finish either fourth or fifth in the OAC standings pending the outcome of the Crusaders' match with #8 Ohio Northern and Muskingum's match with Otterbein, which both take place on Saturday.
Muskingum used a 9-0 run and six total service aces to take control early in the first set, as Capital hit just -.057, committing nine errors in 35 attempts.
Junior middle hitter Allison Hostetler (Dalton, Ohio/Dalton HS) had five kills and fellow junior Sarah Gallik (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston HS) had four kills in the second set, but Muskingum held off a late Capital surge to take a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, the Muskies again jumped out to an early lead and never let Capital into it, as the Crusaders hit just .114 and allowed four more service aces.
Hostetler led the team with 10 kills, while Gallik had eight kills and hit .389. Senior setter Kara Guster (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville HS) had 16 assists and junior libero Sara Doebel (Clyde, Ohio/Clyde HS) had a team-best 15 digs.
The Crusaders conclude OAC regular season play at 1 p.m. Saturday as Capital plays host to #8 Ohio Northern University.