BLUFFTON, Ohio – One day after starting the season with a pair of wins, the Hanover volleyball team added two more wins over Adrian (Mich.) and Wheaton (Ill.) on day two of the Sommer Center Spiketacular to win all four matches on the first weekend of the 2017 season.

The Panthers opened the day with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Adrian. The Bulldogs won the first set 25-23, fell 27-25 in set two, and then won 25-23 in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Hanover answered with a 27-25 win in set four, and then out-lasted the Bulldogs 15-10 in the fifth set for their third victory in as many tries.

In their final match of the Spiketacular against Wheaton, the two teams split the first two sets. Hanover won 25-17 in the first set, while the Thunder earned a 25-23 win in set two. The Panthers went on to win sets three and four 25-15 and 25-20 to cap the undefeated weekend.

Senior Courtney Crawford (Louisville, Ky.) had 13 kills in each match for a total of 26. She had a .500 hitting percentage on the day and added seven total blocks in the two matches to lead Hanover.

Fellow senior Kelsey Brandvik (Indianapolis, Ind.) and junior Margo Main (West Lafayette, Ind.) had 19 kills apiece in the two matches, and senior Kristin Goben (Finchville, Ind.) finished the day with 18 kills and 21 digs. For her efforts, Goben was named to the all-tournament team.

Juniors Haley Alexander (Martinsville, Ind.) and Abby Crump (Indianapolis, Ind.) combined for 97 assists, 28 digs and seven service aces, while senior Monique Huynh (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a total of 44 digs in the two wins.

The 4-0 start marks the first time in over 10 years that the Panthers have started the season with four straight wins. Hanover will look for its fifth win in its home-opener Tuesday, Sept. 5 against Spalding. The match is set to start at 7 p.m. in Collier Arena.

Contact: Mike Pritchard

pritchard@hanover.edu