GAMBIER, Ohio – Led by a strong defensive effort and 12 kills from Chelsea Huppert, No. 15 Ohio Northern University defeated Kenyon College in three sets on Wednesday night at Tomsich Arena.
 
The Polar Bears improved to 10-3 while the Ladies moved their record to 9-3.
 
ONU held Kenyon to a .162 attack percentage, its lowest of the season, while notching 64 digs in the match.
 
Delaney Swanson and Mackenzie Bruzzio led the Ladies' attack. Swanson notched a match-high 13 kills while Bruzzio tallied 11. That duo also combined for 16 digs. Newcomer Katie Howard collected 20 digs to pace the Kenyon defense and Meghan Cason handed out 31 assists.
 
Competition was tight early in the first set as a Swanson kill brought the count to 8-7. ONU responded with a quick 4-0 run before the Ladies pulled to within three. Down 12-7, the Ladies fought back to bring the score to 14-11 after a Bruzzio point. After that though, the Polar Bears scored five more in a row and later prevailed 25-18.
 
Second-set action saw the Ladies get out to a 9-5 lead and later a 12-7 advantage after another Swanson kill. However, the Polar Bears, who have beaten three ranked teams this year, got in gear to seize control. A 12-2 stretch with Huppert recording three kills pushed ONU ahead 19-14. The visitors then closed the set with five straight points.
 
In the third, the Polar Bears got off to their best start of the match. ONU led 6-1 after a Kenyon block error. Several sequences later, a kill by Josie Andres moved the scoreboard to 13-5. The Ladies were able to pull the deficit to four on four occasions, however, that would be the closest they got. ONU wound up winning 25-20.
 
The Ladies will travel to Pennsylvania on Saturday to face NCAC opponent Allegheny College at noon and follow that up with a contest against Chatham University.