FINDLAY, OHIO -Sophomores Danielle McQuade had 17 kills and Jordan Jenkins had 14 kills and 17 digs as the Tiffin University volleyball team (1-2 GLIAC, 1-7) picked up its first win of the season 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20) over Findlay (1-3 GLIAC, 3-5), Friday evening at Croy Gymnasium.
In the first set, Findlay tried to put it away early ,storming out to an 11-6 lead. Tiffin dug in and fought back scoring seven straight points. Freshman Erin Turner crushed the ball off the block to make it 13-11, Dragons.
The Oilers scored the next two points. After that, the teams went back and forth until it was 18-18. UF closed on a 7-3 run to take the set.
In the second set, TU made its move with an 8-5 lead. Paced by Jenkins three kills, Tiffin outscored Findlay 12-3 to put the set out of reach.
The third set was a nail biter the whole way. Tied at 14, the Dragons attempted to take charge with a 7-3 run. That made it 21-17.
The Oilers got a kill from Maggie Naayers, a block from Samantha Granger and Danielle Taflinger, and forced an error. All of a sudden, it was 21-20, TU.
The teams traded points to make it 22-21. Tiffin got kills from Jenkins and McQuade and a service ace from Turner to take the set.
The fourth set was almost identical to the previous set. Neither team was able to take complete charge. Trailing 18-17, the Dragons pulled out a burst of energy. TU went on an 8-2 run, ending the match off a cross court shot by Turner.
For Tiffin, Turner had 12 kills while sophomore McKenzie Wright added 10. The Dragons hit a season-best .360 with Jenkins, McQuade and Turner all over .400.
Freshman Tiffany Buchinger had a career-best 47 assists and added two aces. Senior Lindsay Heller had 14 digs, her eighth straight double-digit dig performance. She now has 1307 career digs, 13th best in TU history.
Tiffin remains on the road Saturday, Sept. 17, taking on Hillsdale. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
-TIFFIN UNIVERSITY-
