Point Park drops hard-fought battle at Oakland City (Ind.) to begin weekend

OAKLAND CITY, Ind. -- In a match that included over 100 digs and 200 attacks from each team, Point Park University volleyball lost a hard-fought battle at Oakland City (Ind.), 3-2, on Friday night. 

Oakland City (12-7) improved to 10-3 in the River States Conference with the victory of 27-25, 25-19, 16-25, 23-25, 15-10. 

Point Park (5-16, 2-11 RSC) did not go down easily after dropping the first two sets. The Pioneers were in control of the third set and forced a deciding set by holding on in the fourth. 

With things coming down to the fifth set, the Mighty Oaks came out on top in what was a battle of two teams slugging away at the net and digging out the best of what the other team had all night. 

Point Park had a season-high 119 digs as a team. Oakland City was right behind with 118 total digs. The Pioneers had 61 kills -- their third-highest of the season -- in 219 attacks. The Mighty Oaks tallied 53 kills in 218 attacks.

The Pioneers' defensive effort had 28 digs from libero Kenzie Zauner. Eden McElhaney was next with 24 digs along with a team-high 18 kills. Setters Ashlynn Gulakowski (16 digs) and Elise Wallace (14 digs) combined for 30 digs. Lily Marchand added 12 digs as it was a total-team effort to climb back into the match.

At the net, Point Park had three players in double digits with Amanda Contois and Giulia Follador putting down 10 kills each. Marcella Erichsen chipped in nine kills while Mariah Perez had eight kills and five blocks. 

Point Park had a 24-22 lead in the first for its first of three set points in the opening game. The Pioneers were also up 25-24 before Oakland City made a comeback. The second set was tied at 19-19 before the Mighty Oaks made another late charge. 

The Pioneers raced out to a 10-2 lead in the third set to begin their comeback. Oakland City got as close as 20-13. In the fourth, Point Park moved to set point at 24-19. After another comeback from Oakland City, Perez put down the clinching kill for the 25-23 win. 

Point Park had a 5-1 lead in the fifth. But Oakland City turned things around forcing Point Park to rally. The Pioneers got as close as 14-10. 

For Oakland City, Dunja Madjarevic led five players in double figures for digs with a match-high 43 digs. The Mighty Oaks had four players with double-digit kills led by Lisa Scapini with 12 and Laura Betsa and De'sheonna Foster with 11 each. 

The Pioneers continue the road trip Saturday, Oct. 21 at Brescia (Ky.) for a 12:00 p.m. CT start in Owensboro, Ky., for another RSC match.