HANOVER, Ind. – A trio of Hanover volleyball players logged seven kills against Centre (Ky.) Friday evening, as the well-balanced offensive attack led to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-23) victory.

Overall, Hanover (6-0) had six players record five or more kills. Senior Courtney Crawford (Louisville, Ky.) and Emily Ertel (North Vernon, Ind.) and junior Margo Main (Ann Arbor, Mich.) each posted seven kills to lead the team.

Crawford led the offensive attack early, posting four kills on four total attacks in the first set. Ertel added a four-kill second frame, while Main had three kills in the first and two in the second and third frames respectively. Crawford finished with a .500 hitting percentage to lead the team, while Main hit .375.

Adding six kills apiece were senior Kristin Goben (Louisville, Ky.) and junior Claire Dennis (Bloomington, Ind.). Senior Kelsey Brandvik (Indianapolis, Ind.) pitched in with five kills.

Defensively, Hanover held an 8-7 edge in total blocks. Crawford logged a team high five rejections, while Dennis, Ertel and Goben added multiple blocks as well. Senior Monique Huynh (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team with 15 digs, as Dennis and sophomore Ally Williams (Fountaintown, Ind.) also adding double-digit digs.

Juniors Haley Alexander (Martinsville, Ind.) and Abby Crump (Indianapolis, Ind.) totaled 34 of the team's 40 assists, with Alexander leading the way with 22 helpers.

Despite a tightly contested set to open the match, the Panthers never trailed and took six of the last nine points to earn a 25-22 victory.

After falling behind by as many as four points in the second set, the Blue and Red came storming back to end the frame on a 19-6 run. A kill from Dennis capped the set, giving HC a 25-16 set victory and 2-0 advantage in the match.

Trailing 14-13 in the third frame, Hanover recorded four straight points to capture a 17-14 edge. The Panthers pushed the lead to as many as five points late, but needed the final two points of the frame to secure the three-set victory, 25-23.

Hanover has now won eight straight matches during their home invitational, dating back to the 2014 season.

The Panthers will look to stay unbeaten in 2017 when they welcome Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) and Ohio Wesleyan to Collier Arena Saturday, Sept. 9.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu