By Tim Glon
ADA -- Senior Ellen Grenert had 17 kills and freshman Ellie Gillespie had 14 kills and 18 digs to lead the Ohio Northern volleyball team to a thrilling 25-14, 28-26, 21-25, 20-25, 15-11 victory over Heidelberg Tuesday night at the ONU Sports Center.
With the win, the Polar Bears improve to 20-5 overall and move into third place in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a 4-2 record.
The Student Princes fall to 16-8, 4-3 with the loss.
Marian Bevington led four HU players in double figures in kills with a match-high 18.
Senior Kelsie Zumberger dished out 45 assists and junior Jeni Kmic had 25 digs for the Polar Bears.
Northern won the first two sets before Heidelberg rallied to win Sets 3 and 4 to set up a fifth set.
The Polar Bears recorded six of their 15 blocks in the fifth set to post the victory.
In Set 5, ONU scored four straight points on three blocks and a kill by freshman Kaitlann Hogrefe to turn a 6-5 lead into a commanding 10-5 advantage.
HU would pull within 12-10, but a Hogrefe block would make it 13-10 and a kill by Grenert would put ONU ahead 14-10.
In Set 1, Northern would go on runs of 4-0 and 5-0 to take a quick 10-3 lead, then would use another 5-0 run to go up 24-13.
Trailing 19-13 in Set 2, another 5-0 Polar Bear run would get the home team within 19-18.
Leading 24-22, ONU had back-to-back Set points, but HU would score three straight to go up 25-24.
A kill by Zumberger would put ONU up 26-25, but again Heidelberg would tie the match.
Finally, a kill by Grenert and a kill by freshman Anna Ricker would give ONU a 28-26 victory.
The Student Princes would rally in Set 3, after ONU took a quick 6-1 lead.
HU tied the match at 11-11 and would score three straight to go up 20-16 and hold on for the win and pull with two sets to one.
Heidelberg would take control of Set 4 early, going on an 8-2 run to take an 8-4 lead.
ONU would pull within 8-7 and 9-8, but HU would lead the rest of the way and even the match at two sets apiece.
The Polar Bears hit .260 for the match with 62 kills, while the Student Princes would hit .180 with 69 kills.
ONU will travel to John Carroll on Friday for a 7 pm match in University Heights.
