Pepper Pike, OH--The Ursuline College volleyball team opened Great Midwest Athletic Conference play Friday night, falling to Walsh University, 3-0.
The Arrows dropped the match by scores of 17-25, 15-25 and 13-25.
The opening set started evenly at 4-4 before Walsh went on a nine-point run to take control. Ursuline battled back to cut the deficit to 17-14, but the Cavaliers closed the set on an 8-3 run to take the opening frame.
Walsh carried that momentum into the second set, racing out to an 8-0 lead. Ursuline responded with five consecutive points to close the gap, but an 8-1 Walsh run pushed the Cavaliers ahead 16-6. The teams traded rallies down the stretch, but the Arrows could not overcome the deficit.
The third set belonged to the Cavaliers, who prevented Ursuline from building any sustained momentum. The Arrows were unable to string together more than two consecutive points as Walsh closed out the match, 25-13.
Walsh held the statistical advantage across the match, including a .245-.016 edge in attack percentage. The Cavaliers also led in service aces, 5-3, and blocks, 5-4.
Ursuline was hindered by errors throughout the match, committing 25 attack errors to Walsh's 12 and eight service errors compared to three by the Cavaliers.
Ellie Zoeckler led the Arrows offensively with seven kills and two service aces. Madison Morris paced Ursuline at the net with three block assists and one solo block.
Annie Quinlan directed the Ursuline offense with 11 assists, while Mya Jackson anchored the defensive effort with 14 digs. Zoeckler added eight digs, and Alivia Martin contributed seven.
Up next: The Arrows return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host Malone in G-MAC action to conclude their home series in The Jane and Lee Seidman Gymnasium.
