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Day one of the Capital-Otterbein Volleyball Opener took place at the Capital Center on Friday evening, as the Capital University volleyball team opened the 2013 season with a split of two matches.
In the second match of the evening, the Crusaders faced Albion (Mich.), which was coming off their first loss of the season earlier in the evening to Denison.
The first set belonged to the Crusaders by a final of 25-20, while the second set saw a rally come up just short, as the Brits tied the match at one game a piece.
With the match all tied up, the Crusaders battled back and forth early on in the third set, before the Brits went on a 5-1 run, increasing their lead to four.
But, the Crusaders were able to rally, thanks large in part to a 12-5 run which would ultimately give the Crusaders a 2-1 match lead.
In the fourth and final set, the Brits once again battled the Crusaders tough, as the two teams traded points throughout the opening serves. However, the Crusaders would pull away, closing the match on a 7-1 run.
Freshman Hanna Ewart led the way in kills with a team-high 11, while Junior Olivia Alredge posted 10 kills of her own.
Junior Kelly Leonard also helped lead the way for the Crusaders, recording a team-high 28 digs. Freshman Courtney McCracken chipped in nine kills and 15 digs in the team's first victory of the season.
In the first match, the Crusaders took a commanding 2-0 lead over Defiance, before the Yellow Jackets rallied to force a fifth set tiebreaker.
The fifth set proved to be the finale of the season-opener for the Crusaders, as both teams went back and forth before Defiance recorded an 18-16 victory in the final set.
Leonard was extremely aggressive in the match, recording a match-high 41 digs. Ewart led the way in kills with a team-high of 20, while Junior Marissa Price tallied 14 kills for the match. Briggs and McCracken also added 17 and 15 digs respectively.
The Crusaders improve to 1-1 to open the 2013 season, while Albion falls to 0-2.
Day two of the opener is set for Aug. 30 at 9:30 a.m. as the Crusaders face Trine, followed by a match against Rose-Hulman at 12 p.m.
