Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SANDUSKY, Oh. – The Shenandoah University volleyball team split its first two games of the 2023 season and the Great Lakes Crossover Tournament Friday evening.
 
The Hornets (1-1) won its first match 3-1 (29-27, 30-28, 25-19, 25-12)  versus St. Mary's (IN) (0-1), before falling 3-0  (25-18, 28-26, 25-20) versus Olivet (2-0) in match two.
 
MATCH ONE RECAP
Shenandoah opened up the 2023 campaign by winning its first set, 29-27. In the back-and-forth opening set, the Hornets never trailed by more than one point.
 
Down 27-26, Shenandoah took advantage of two straight errors by SMC-IN, before Regan Minney delivered the final point on an assist by Abby Litchenfels.
 
The Belles won set two with three straight points, after trailing 28-27
 
SMC-IN scored the first point in the third set, but the Hornets took command with an 11-2 run in the middle of the set. Brooke Gast helped the effort with six kills in the set.
 
After falling behind 7-6, SU took control again by regaining the lead and going up 19-8 at one point. The Belles would try to crawl back but kills by Minney and Gast would seal the deal for Shenandoah, as they won the fourth set and the match.
 
MATCH TWO RECAP
The Hornets and Olivet tied a total of 15 times across the first two sets, with eight in the first and seven in the second.
 
In the third set, Olivet never trailed and allowed one tie as they took home the victory.
 
SU had the advantage across the three sets in total blocks and had fewer errors than the Comets.
 
Jillian Warter led Shenandoah in points with 11. Warter and Minney each tallied a team-high eight kills in the match.
 
UP NEXT
Shenandoah plays two matches tomorrow on day two of the Great Lakes Crossover Tournament.