MARYVILLE, Tenn. - The Capital University volleyball team split a pair of matches with Oglethorpe (Ga.) and Centre on day two of the Maryville Tournament hosted by Maryville (Tenn.) College.

Capital's first match featured a matchup against Oglethorpe, with the Crusaders dropping their first two sets against the Stormy Petrels by scores of 25-21 and 25-20.

The Crusaders then rebounded in set three, defeating Oglethorpe in convincing fashion, 25-11. Capital jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the set, finishing the set on a 9-6 run to secure its first victory of the match.

With a 2-1 deficit in tact, the Crusaders looked to even the match at two sets apiece in the fourth set. After gaining an early 8-4 advantage over the Stormy Petrels, Capital surrendered four straight points to Oglethorpe, as the set was tied at 8-8. 

The remainder of the set featured a back and forth style of scoring, until the score was tied at 16 points apiece and the Stormy Petrels manufactured a 9-2 scoring run to take the fourth and decisive set, 25-18.

Leading the way for Capital in its first match was sophomore Courtney McCracken (Newark, Ohio), who led the match with 15 kills, while also tallying 16 digs.

Classmates Kristin Bender (Fremont, Ohio) and Hanna Ewart (Wichita, Kan.) followed with eight kills apiece, while Bender posted three block assists.

Senior Kelly Leonard (Cincinnati, Ohio) paced the Crusaders in total digs (25), while junior Katie Weilbacher (Grove City, Ohio) recorded a team-high 25 assists to go along with 19 digs. 

Capital then faced Centre in its afternoon matchup, taking three straight sets in convincing fashion. The first two sets proved to victories by the same margin for the Crusaders, as Capital defeated the Colonels 25-16 to take a 2-0 set advantage.

The Crusaders then defeated the Colonels in set three by their largest set victory, 25-13. Capital never trailed through all three sets against Centre.

Bender led the Crusaders in kills (8), while also tallying a pair of block assists. Senior LeAnna Cotton (Okeechobee, Fla.) followed with seven kills of her own, with McCracken registering six kills and 10 digs. 

Leonard led the match with 21 total digs and tied for the match-high in service aces (2) with fellow Crusader in freshman Jessica Winstel (Milford, Ohio).

Freshman Caitlin McDivitt (Cortland, Ohio) led the Crusaders in assists (12), while also recording nine digs. Weilbacher also added 10 assists and six digs for the match.

With the weekend tournament complete, Capital returns home for its next match on Sept. 16 against Ohio Wesleyan. Match time is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the Capital Center.