ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Old Dominion volleyball split its two matches on Day Two of the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, earning a 3-2 win over Utah Valley before falling to tournament host Navy, 3-1.
"We played three strong teams this weekend and overall I'm pleased with how we managed the challenges. Execution was not consistent enough, but coming out with a victory over Utah Valley is a good mark for us," said head coach Fred Chao.
ODU 3, Utah Valley 2
The opening set was tied at 19-19 when the Monarchs (4-2) won three-straight points to take the lead. After a service error, Myah Conway scored three kills to secure the set at 25-20. ODU got off to a strong start in the second set thanks to four aces by Teresa Atilano that put Old Dominion in front, 5-0. The Wolverines (1-4) scored a kill to get on the scoreboard, but another successful attack by Conway opened up another 5-0 run. UVU struggled to get into the set, and a 25-12 tally gave the Monarchs a two-set lead.
The Wolverines found their rhythm in the third set, building an early lead 9-5 before pulling away, 15-9. UVU would go on to a 25-16 decision to send the match to a fourth set. ODU overcame an early 7-2 deficit and pulled ahead 22-21 thanks to kills by Atilano and Bryanna Jones, but four of the next five points went to Utah Valley as the Wolverines forced a fifth set.
Atilano opened up the decisive set with another ace, her sixth of the match, and ODU jumped out to a 4-0 lead. UVU strung together three points late, but it wasn't enough as Conway scored the match point for a 15-12 final.
Three Monarchs scored in double-figures, led by Conway with 17 kills. Jones was close behind her with 15, and Alice Munari chipped in 10. Atilano turned in a 42-assist, 12-dig double-double, and Conway also had a double-double with 10 digs. Kate Kilpatrick ended up with a team-high 14 digs and Bailey Burgess recorded six blocks.
Navy 3, ODU 1
In the night cap, ODU edged Navy 25-23 in the first set, but the Midshipmen (4-1) won the next three by scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-14. A 5-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Munari kills, helped ODU establish an 11-4 lead in Set One. Navy was able to pull even at 18-18 and later jumped ahead 22-21. From there, a Jones kill, a Navy attack error and a block by LeeAnne Lowery and Jones allowed the Monarchs to wrestle back control, 24-22. The sides then traded points as Lowery converted an attack attempt for the set point.
A couple of 4-0 runs and a 5-0 push put the Mids ahead 21-11 in the second set. Set Three was knotted at 5-5 when the home team strung together six-straight points and never looked back. ODU held a narrow 6-5 lead in the fourth set, but the Mids put together a couple of 5-0 runs to distance themselves, 17-9.
Conway led ODU in the loss with 12 kills and six digs. Atilano reached 30 assists and Munari served two aces. Lowery scored seven kills with three blocks, Burgess also had three blocks, and Kilpatrick finished with eight digs.
On the team's progress after the first couple of weekends, Chao commented, "Our serving game is pretty strong and has helped us win some of these matches. We're still getting comfortable in serve receive, so that will take some time to develop. Teresa and Myah are picking up where they left off last year, but this year they are doing a better job of being stable and helping the team ride out the tough times in a match. Our middles are making strides but need our passing to be better showcased, and our outsides are showing a lot of promise but need more experience at this level. But overall we are competing well and showing we can make important in-game adjustments."
Up Next
ODU has a road match at Virginia this Tuesday, Sept. 5. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACCNX.
ODU Edges Utah Valley 3-2, Falls to Navy in Four Sets
