POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – In one of the most fitting and praiseworthy endings to a season in school history, the Otterbein volleyball program worked itself through more adversity to claim a thrilling five-set victory over Muskingum for the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals, playing as the road team in a wildly energetic arena, battled back to escape by line scores of 20-25, 25-16, 12-25, 25-26, 18-16 in yet another classic OAC Final. Otterbein dropped a five-set heartbreaker at Ohio Northern last time around despite seeing multiple match points.

However, the script was flipped this time around as No. 14-ranked Otterbein beat No. 12-ranked Muskingum for the third time in the last four tries. The Cards finish this unique season with a dominant 18-3 record.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Otterbein fell into an early hole, in front of a raucous crowd, but stayed the course to secure a rather comfortable victory in the second set. The Cards led just 14-10 before pulling away, finishing the game on a 6-1 run.

Muskingum (18-3) countered with a lopsided victory effort in the third, placing the Cardinals in yet another hole. Nevertheless, Otterbein broke an 11-11 tie midway through the fourth set by finishing on a 14-5 run.

The stage was set for a winner-take-all fifth set, as the customary "race to 15" needed extra points. A gritty Cardinal squad trailed 9-6 and was on the brink of falling too far behind, but never quit. Otterbein won four points in a row before deadlocked ensued at 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16…

Both sides had match points but couldn't quite finish, until Otterbein had serve leading 17-16. Freshman Morgan Hartman quickly delivered a kill up the left sideline to end the day and erupt a memorable celebration.

KEY STATS:

Julia Vermilion, averaging a double-double in the postseason, finished with 21 kills and 18 digs to help guide the effort. She was named Most Outstanding Player, and joined on the All-Tournament Team by Hartman and Carlie Craycraft.

Craycraft, having emerged as one of the top setters in the nation as just a sophomore, compiled 55 assists and 21 digs for yet another double-double performance.

Five Cardinals had 18-plus digs, paced by Hillary Sterett (22) in her last college match and another 21 from defensive mate Bridget Oder.

Amber Greeley hit a productive 16-4-33 (.364) for Otterbein, which claims its third tournament crown in program history. Hartman added 21 digs and 12 kills while classmate Madison McCoy was in on five blocks.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES:

The program now says goodbye to a trio of senior legends in Sterett, Tate Eppard and Emily Shuk. The class departs with a combined record of 95-23, the most successful group all time in terms of winning percentage (.805).