COLUMBUS – The Capital University volleyball team competed in its Ohio Athletic Conference opener Saturday and was downed 25-15, 25-21, 25-21 by Ohio Northern on Homecoming Saturday at the Capital Center.

Freshman outside hitter Hanna Ewart (Wichita, Kan.) paced the Crusaders (11-9 overall, 0-1 OAC) with 10 kills, while freshman middle hitter Mona Ratliff (South Charleston, Ohio) tallied nine kills.

Junior setter Marissa Price (Tiffin, Ohio) and sophomore setter Katie Weilbacher (Grove City, Ohio) totaled 14 and 13 assists, respectively.

Sophomore libero Natalie Briggs (Pataskala, Ohio) led the defense with 29 digs.

Capital trailed early in all three sets and was unable to get out of trouble in the first two. In the third, the Crusaders came all the way back from a 12-4 deficit to level the match at 18-18, riding the strong serving of Briggs and sophomore defensive specialist Becca DeWitt (Springfield, Ohio). Despite Capital's strong push, the Polar Bears (11-6, 1-0) won the last three points in the set to close out the match.

The Crusaders host Ohio Christian Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Capital Center in the team's final non-conference affair of the season.