By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---Lisa Urbanski helped the Express volleyball team salvage a split today after Columbus State handed the Express their first conference loss since in over three years.

In the opener, Columbus State swept the Express 25-16, 25-20, 25-23 to end a 36 match Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) winning streak.

Tiffani Hobbs led the Express in kills with five, while Jessica Cooper (11) and Ciarra Wirick (9) led the way in assists. Urbanski totaled 15 digs and one ace, while Kayla Siefker and Jazmine Thomas each totaled three blocks.

Urbanski then took control in the second match to help lead the Express to a 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24 win over Jackson College.

The sophomore tallied 35 digs, five aces and one kill in the match. Her dig and ace total were both team-highs. She had five of the team's eight aces.

Hobbs and Thomas each totaled nine kills to lead the team. Thomas had a kill to close out the second set win, while Stephanie Kipp (four kills) had the match winning kill. 

Wirick and Kipp each added eight digs against Jackson, while Thomas destroyed the Jets at the net with 10 blocks (four solo). 

Notes

The Express are now 7-7 overall and 2-1 in the OCCAC. They fall into a tie for second place with Sinclair Community College, while Columbus State holds a firm lead in first place with a 5-0 record. Along with their perfect conference record, the Cougars are 13-3 overall.

The Express had not lost an OCCAC match since Sept. 10, 2010, when the team fell in five sets to Edison State Community College.

Additionally, the Express had won five straight matches, all in straight sets, heading into today's tilt with Columbus State.

The stats from the match against Columbus State do not include the first set. They will be added to the season stats in a few days.

Not including today's first set, Urbanski has 1,194 career digs. She is third on the Express volleyball career list, and she has 241 this year.

In between the two matches for the Express today, Jackson College was swept by Columbus State.