In a G-MAC volleyball north division matchup, the Tiffin University volleyball team (8-7, 3-4 G-MAC) suffered their third straight loss on Friday night inside the Gillmor Center to Northwood (25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 23-25.
Northwood got off to a good start as they won six of the first nine points. Trailing 7-5, the Dragons won the next four points fueled by a Taylor Peterson kill and service ace from Katelyn Owens to regain the advantage and TU held the lead the rest of the way in the opening set. The Timberwolves tied it at nine and the Dragons once again rattled off the next four fueled by two kills from Olivia Karhoff. NU got back within one later on and Kenedi Goon clinched the set on a kill from Ashlyn Jones.
With Northwood leading 6-5 in the second set, the Timberwolves won the next six to extend their lead to 12-5. TU came roaring back and won the next five to get back within two thanks to kills by Petersen, Kaylee Freund, and Wakaya Wilson. Three straight kills by Goon, Freund, and Josie Reinhart brought the Dragons within one, 17-16. TU couldn't keep the momentum going though as the Timberwolves separated themselves by winning the next four and would go on take the set to tie the match at one set apiece.
The visitors kept it going in the third set as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Dragons continued to claw back and a combined block by Freund and Goon gave TU their first lead of the set at 14-13. The Timberwolves responded in a big way and would go on to win the third set after winning 12 of the final 16 points.
The two teams traded runs in set four. The Dragons won four straight to take a 7-5 lead following kills by Goon, Petersen, and Wilson, but the Timberwolves answered in a big way by winning the next seven to take a 12-7 lead. The Dragons trailed the rest of the way but had a chance late in the set. A service error from NU made the set 24-23 and put TU in a good spot with a chance to serve to extend the set. Jones served it over and the NU offense immediately clinched the match on a kill following an unfortunate miscommunication by the Dragons.
Petersen led the way offensively by recording a season-high 13 kills. Maggie Pavlansky led the team in assists with 22 and Diana Heitkamp led the way defensively with 27 digs.
As a team, the Dragons finished the match with a hitting percentage of .160 and NU finished with a percentage of .181.
The Dragons once again have a quick turnaround and are set to play #25 Hillsdale tomorrow, Oct. 12 at noon inside the Gillmor Center in another north division matchup.
