COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Wednesday evening, the Capital University volleyball team started brightly, by scoring the match's first five points and holding a 7-1 lead early in the first set. Unfortunately, that hot start fizzled out as the visiting Muskingum University Muskies found their rhythm and eventually ousted Capital in three sets. 

In the end, Muskingum improved to 13-5 overall after claiming the sets in order 26-24, 25-17, 25-11. Capital's record slips back to 8-13 on the year. 

Overall, the difference came down to a more efficient attack from the Muskies as they landed 41 kills and just 14 errors on 126 attacks, while Capital managed 32 kills and 19 errors on 124 swings. 

The bulk of the Comet offense came from Sydney LaPointe who landed nine kills on a .273 hitting percentage. Alissa Holler was just behind with eight kills. Larissa Smith added five kills and no errors on 14 swings, good for a .357 clip. 

Reagan Willoughby set up the majority of the attacks with 26 assists, while Abby Brunner accounted for three helpers and Paree Furness set up two. 

Defensively, Brunner led all players with 20 digs. Furness added 14 pick-ups, and Alissa Holler hit double-digits for the second time this year with 10 digs. 

At the net, Smith led Capital with three blocks, one of which came alone. Caleigh Hamby had two assists of her own, while LaPointe, Willoughby, Audrey James, and Ryann Bunyak each got in on one block assist. 

At the service line, Alissa Holler landed three aces, while Abby Brunner landed the only other ace for Capital. 

THE OPPONENT
Kills - Emma Dunham / Lexie Huck (10)
Aces - Emma Conrad / Addison Gingrich / Abby Buchtel (2)
Blocks - Reagan Flood / Lexie Huck / Josie Niemeyer (2)
Assists - Emma Conrad (30)
Digs - Gracie Collins (16)

UP NEXT
Capital's difficult road ahead will continue as they travel to Mount Union on Friday evening for a 7 p.m. start. The Purple Raiders are Capital's third straight opponent to have been receiving votes in the national rankings for the past few weeks.