GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Hanover volleyball team dropped two matches during the opening day of DePauw Invitational action, falling to Mount Union (Ohio) and Muskingum (Ohio) in straight sets.

Senior Kelsey Brandvik (Indianapolis, Ind.), who logged double-digit kills in both matches Friday evening, led Hanover offensively. Brandvik had 11 kills in the first match versus Mount Union, before posting a team high 10 kills against the Muskies. The senior hit .340 on the night.

Sophomore Madie Snyder (Boonville, Ind.) had a team high 12 kills in the opener, while junior Margo Main (Ann Arbor, Mich.) pitched in with 11. Both Snyder and Main hit .333 against the Purple Raiders.

With 32 digs in two matches, senior Monique Huynh (Indianapolis, Ind.) paced the Panthers (8-3) defensively. Senior Courtney Crawford (Louisville, Ky.) added six blocks in both matches, pushing her team high season total to 40.

A pair of juniors in Haley Alexander (Martinsville, Ind.) and Abby Crump (Indianapolis, Ind.) each recorded 38 assists on the night. Crump led the way against UMU with 23 helpers, while Alexander paced the team with 17 in the nightcap.

The Panthers finished with a three-set season high in attacking errors against Mount Union, totaling 23 miss hits. Despite the struggles offensively, Hanover battled in each set, losing by three points or less in every frame, including 28-26 opening and 25-23 closing set decisions.

Early set runs hurt HC against Muskingum, as the Muskies scored six consecutive points in each of the first two frames to take both sets, 25-19. Hanover led early in set three, but again, a scoring spurt from MU secured a victory, 25-21.

Hanover will look to bounce back quickly, as they wrap up DePauw Invitational play Saturday afternoon. The Panthers will face the host, DePauw, at 11 a.m. before finishing with a 1 p.m. match versus Wheaton (Ill.).

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu