By: Joseph Clarkson
ADA — The Ohio Northern volleyball team opened the 2011 season with a 3-1 victory over Defiance in the opening match of the 33rd Annual ONU Invitational at the ONU Sports Center, Friday afternoon.
The Polar Bears (1-0) defeated the Yellow Jackets (0-1) 25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 26-24.
Sophomore Kristen Davidson recorded a match-high 13 kills. Sophomore Cenzie Yoder registered nine kills on a .421 clip, while sophomore Jeni Kmic led all players with 22 digs.
Senior Marlea Rolander and sophomore Chelsea Luderman led the way for Defiance with eights kills a piece.
In the first set with the score tied at 8-8, the Polar Bears went on seven-point service run to take a 15-8 lead.
Davidson, freshman Rachel Olach and sophomore Julia Fuerst all recorded kills at the end of the first set to ensure the win for the Polar Bears.
ONU led in the second set 21-18, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a three-point service run to tie the game at 21-21.
Three Ohio Northern attack errors gave Defiance the second set.
In the third set, the Polar Bears used kills from Davidson, Yoder and sophomore Jayce Born to ONU a 17-12 edge.
The Polar Bears went on a four-point service run and won the third set 25-16.
In the final set, Defiance used two service runs to earn a 24-23 advantage. Northern responded with two Davidson kills and a Defiance attack error gave the victory to the Polar Bears.
Ohio Northern returns to action tonight, when they take on Thiel (Pa.) for a 7 p.m. start.
The Polar Bears will square off against Trine (Ind.) and Carnegie Mellon tomorrow in day two of the Invitational.