Heidelberg Falls in Volleyball Battle of Cross-town Rivals

In a battle between cross-town volleyball rivals, Tiffin University defeated Heidelberg College 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 23-25, 16-25). The setback marks the first on the year for the Berg after four-straight victories to open the year. Tiffin improves to 4-1.

In set one, Tiffin scored the first four points to take control early. Heidelberg battled back to pull within three points, 12-9, on an Audra Vucic (Lancaster, Ohio / Fisher Catholic) kill from the right side, but could not get any closer. TU took set one 25-19.

Heidelberg overcame its setback and battled back and forth with the Dragons early in set two. The Berg took its first lead at 7-6 following an Emily Hurlburt (St. Mary’s, Ohio / Memorial) kill and never looked back. Its lead was extended to nine, 17-8, on three-straight Tiffin hitting errors. The Berg went on to post a 25-17 win.

Set three saw Heidelberg trailing throughout, but they would not give up. Down 20-14, Heidelberg pulled within one, 21-20, on back-to-back kills from Morgan Magers (Green Springs, Ohio / Old Fort) and Amanda Atchison (Frankfort, Ohio / Frankfort Adena). The Berg knotted the score on a block from Venessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) and Atchison before taking its first lead of the set, 23-22, on a Magers service ace. Heidelberg’s lead was short lived as TU scored three unanswered points to take the set, 25-23.

Tiffin utilized a 6-0 run midway through set four to take a 10-point lead, 19-9, en route to a 25-16 set win and match victory.

Leading Heidelberg’s offense was Hurlburt with 11 kills, which marks her fifth-consecutive double-digit kill outing. Picking up seven kills was Atchison. Magers dished out 21 assists.

On defense Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) led two with double figure digs with 21. Backing Donelan was Jackie Reinhart (New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel) with 16. At the net Atchison picked up three blocks, while Magers and Vucic added two apiece.

Heidelberg returns to action this weekend at the Mount St. Joseph Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio. Action begins on Friday with a 1:30 p.m. match versus Milikin.