ADA, Ohio – The Mount St. Joseph Lions continued their challenging non-conference slate on Friday with a doubleheader in Ada, Ohio, facing off against Ohio Northern and Otterbein. Despite two hard-fought losses, the Lions showcased resilience, grit, and strong individual performances that reflect their continued growth heading into conference play.
MATCH ONE: MSJ 2 – Ohio Northern 3 (23-25, 21-25, 29-27, 25-18, 11-15)
The Lions opened the day with a thrilling five-set match against Ohio Northern. Senior Hannah Graves led the way with a dominant double-double performance, notching 20 kills on 58 attempts and 25 digs. Junior Emma Sicking fueled the offense with 26 kills on 54 swings, adding 14 digs in a dynamic effort.
Freshman Ava Moore dished out 29 assists, while sophomore Ginger Johnson added 25 assists and 12 digs in a strong showing from the setting duo. Defensively, sophomore Lyndsey Stephenson contributed 18 digs, helping MSJ force a decisive fifth set after dropping the first two.
Although the Lions narrowly came up short, the comeback effort underscored the team's tenacity and ability to battle against strong opponents.
MATCH TWO: MSJ 1 – Otterbein 3 (28-26, 21-25, 16-25, 13-25)
In their second match of the day, the Lions carried momentum into the opening set, edging out Otterbein in a tightly contested frame. Graves added 13 more kills on 46 attempts, while Sicking recorded 11 kills and 9 digs to round out a solid day.
Johnson tallied 20 assists and Moore added 17 more, continuing their efficient work at the setter position. Stephenson again anchored the back line with 18 digs, providing consistency and leadership defensively.
Despite the early lead, MSJ wasn't able to sustain the momentum but continued to compete with energy and focus.
UP NEXT: The Lions return home for their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener on Saturday, October 4, against Anderson. First serve is set for 2:00 PM in the Harrington Center as Mount St. Joseph looks to kick off conference play on a high note in front of their home fans.
