The Heidelberg University volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Ohio Northern Invitational to open up the 2012 season. The Student Princes defeated Thiel 3-1 (25-17, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20) in the first match before losing to Trine 3-1 (25-16, 26-28, 25-21, 25-23).
In the opener, three players recorded double-digit kills. Marian Bevington (Celina/Parkway) led the team with 14 kills, followed by Jacki Street (Grafton/Midview) and Amber Welfle (Norwalk/St. Paul) with 12 and 11. Rachel Ferguson (Brighton, MI) had 24 assists, and Stephanie Romie (Anna) added 21.
Defensively, high school teammates Tessa Benanzer (Fort Loramie) and Kristen Zumberger (Sidney/Fort Loramie) combined for 47 digs. Benanzer had 29 and Zumberger had 18.
In the nightcap, Street led the offense for the Berg, notching 12 kills. Ferguson had 20 assists.
Against the solid Trine attack, Benanzer had 13 digs and Welfle and Street each recorded eight blocks.
The team will be back in action on Saturday for their third and fourth matches in less than 24 hours. They will take on the College of Wooster at 10 a.m. and Carnegie Mellon at noon.