CEDARVILLE, Ohio - After 425 days, the Walsh Cavaliers volleyball team returned to the court to open the 2020-21 season. The Cavaliers took down the host Cedarville Yellow Jackets 3-0 in the lid-lifter at Callan Athletic Center on Tuesday (Jan. 19) night. 

Score: Walsh 3, Cedarville 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-23)
Location: Cedarville, Ohio (Callan Athletic Center)
Records: Walsh 1-0 (1-0), Cedarville 0-1 (0-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set featured seven ties and four lead changes as the teams exchanged points throughout the opening game. Cedarville erased a pair of two point Walsh leads before taking a one point lead twice. After Walsh tied the set at nine on an error, Olivia Roberts put the Cavaliers on top 10-9 with a kill. Once Walsh took the lead for good, the Cavaliers ended the first set with a 15-5 run. Sydney Dixon capped the first set with a kill, one of five total for the freshman in set one. Walsh was a 25-14 winner in the opening game. 
• Similar to set one, the teams were very close in the early moments of set two. Cedarville and Walsh were tied five times in the opening 12 points after the Yellow Jackets scored the first two points. Trailing 6-5, Hallie Schroeder had three kills on a 5-0 run as Walsh took a 10-6 lead and forced a Cedarville timeout. The lead grew to as many as six at 18-12 for the Cavaliers. Cedarville buzzed back with a 9-3 run as the set was knotted at 21 all. Dixon took back the Walsh lead with a kill and three straight errors sealed the 25-21 win for the Cavaliers.
• Walsh came out firing in the third set as they opened a pair of ten point leads over the Yellow Jackets. After leading 19-9, Cedarville made it a set with a 14-4 rally to tie the set at 23-23. Back-to-back Cedarville errors put the Cavaliers ahead for the match clinching set, 25-23.  

FOR THE CAVALIERS

• Olivia Maczuzak led the Cavaliers with 11 kills on a match-high 35 attack attempts. The junior added six digs, one ace and a block assist in the win. In set three, Maczuzak scored six kills. 
• In her collegiate debut, Sydney Dixon earned her first career double-double with ten kills and 13 digs. 
• Olivia Kearns had the second double-double for Walsh, compiling 30 assists and 11 digs.
• Hallie Schroeder put up eight kills and nine digs along with a team-high .412 attack percentage.
• Natalie Brutscher tied a career-high with 13 digs. 
• Olivia Roberts set a career-best mark with seven kills in the match.

FOR THE YELLOW JACKETS

• Liene Miller led the Yellow Jackets with 11 kils and a .265 attack percentage.
• Abby Kuyper led the defense for Cedarville, digging out 12 attacks.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS 

• Walsh ended the match with a .202 attack percentage, compared to Cedarville's .104.
• In terms of attack percentage, Walsh's best set was the second set as they combined to hit .282.
• The Cavaliers led in most categories overall for the night, except Cedarville finished with eight team blocks to Walsh's two. 

NOTABLE

• In the D2 era, Walsh is now 4-2 against Cedarville after avenging a 3-0 loss at the Callan Athletic Center in 2019.    

NEXT UP

• Walsh will head on the country roads of West Virginia on Friday (Jan. 22) for a matchup with the Ohio Valley Fighting Scots. First serve will be at 7:00 PM. 

-WC-