The Oglethorpe volleyball team picked up its first road victory of the season Thursday night, sweeping LaGrange, 3-0.

In the first set, the Petrels fell behind the home-standing Panthers 9-7 early in the proceedings, but came back with four straight points to take an 11-9 lead. The Petrels built the lead up to 17-13 and then, after a LaGrange point, when on a four-point run to make the score 21-14 and seemingly put the set away.

But LaGrange had other ideas, as they won eight straight points and came all the way back to suddenly take a 22-21 lead. Unfazed though, the Petrels took four of the next five points to take the set anyway, 25-22.

This was a big first-set win, and it seemed to carry over into the second set. The Petrels blazed out to an 8-1 lead early on before LaGrange mounted a bit of a rally to cut the lead to 10-7. The Petrels calmly put the set away with an 11-4 run from there, though. They led 21-11 and eventually won the set, 25-12.

The third set started out very well again for the Stormy Petrels. They took an early 7-3 lead, then saw the Panthers come back to within 12-10, and to eventually take a 21-17 lead. But the Petrels fought back again and mounted another huge rally. They ended the set on a 7-1 run and took the third and final set, 25-22.

McKenna Bondarenko led the way with 18 kills, while Erin Shelton added 11. Meanwhile, Anna Marie DiSalvo had a huge game as the Petrel setter, dishing out 37 assists. Megan Makuck led the team in digs with 21, but three other players finished in double figures, including Bondarenko, Shelton and DiSalvo.

The 3-2 Petrels will finally return home this weekend for the first SAA weekend of the season. The team will face Sewanee on Saturday at noon in their home opener, then come back at 11 a.m. on Sunday to face Centre.