Express Sweep Weekend, Continue OCCAC Streak

Express Sweep Weekend, Continue OCCAC Streak

BChris Schmidbauer, Sports Information Director

Toledo, OH -- After dipping in the Tachikara Division III Top Ten Poll from #2 to #3, the Owens Express had three conference tilts during this week.

Owens, who went just 2-3 at the Catawba Valley Invitational, played on the road on Wednesday against Edison. Owens would win the match 3-0 over the Chargers. The Express would win the first two sets comfortably at 25-15 in the first and 25-18 in the second. Owens would get off to a slow start in the third. They would actually trail Edison State 20-14, before the Express would outscore the Chargers 11-3 to close out the third. The Express would win 25-23 in the decisive set. Kara Evers would lead the way with 14 kills while Michaela Eisenhauser had 10 kills during the match. Summer Sweeting would finish with a team-high 26 assists and Kennedy Ames would finish with 16 digs to lead the Express. 

The Express would finally return home, after a month on the road, on Friday night. Owens hosted Clark State and made quick work of the Eagles, 3-0. The Express would win 25-15, 25-6, and 25-8. Eisenhauer and Evers would lead the team in kills and nine and seven kills, respectively. Sweeting would finish with the team lead in assists at 17, while freshman Kara Schafer would garner 15 assists as well. Kiah Wendel and Eisenhauer would each finish with eight digs a piece, and Sweeting would also have three service aces during the match against the Eagles. 

On Saturday, Owens would take on Sinclair, who is currently in third place in the OCCAC. Owens would start off the match, stuck in neutral. Owens would trail throughout much of the first set. The Express trailed 19-12, before an Owens timeout. The Express would trim the Tartan Pride lead to five points, but Sinclair would lead late in the first set at 22-17. The Express would not go away quietly though. Owens would storm back to outscore Sinclair 8-1 down the stretch to come from behind and win 25-23 in the first set. The Express would take control of the match, and Owens would win the last two sets to win 3-0.

The Express now stand at 28-6 overall and they are currently 12-0 in the OCCAC. They are a half a game ahead of second place Columbus State. The Express have just four conference games remaining. This week the team will play in the regular season home finale on Wednesday, when they host Cuyahoga at 6 PM at the SHAC. Then on Friday, Owens will head to Columbus to take on the Cougars, which will is a huge match for first place in the OCCAC. Then on Saturday, the Express will head to Hocking College to round out the weekend.