The Oglethorpe volleyball team took the first set over SAA leader Hendrix early Saturday afternoon, but the visiting Warriors came back to win three straight sets and take the match, 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-5).

Senior outside hitter McKenna Bondarenko led the team with 11 kills, while senior Megan Makuck led the team in digs with 15. Freshman defensive specialist Gianna Zitello added 11 digs of her own, while setter Brooke Davis led the team with 13 assists.

Things started off well for the Stormy Petrels. After Hendrix took a 5-3 lead, Oglethorpe came back with a huge run, rattling off a 17-8 stretch to take a 20-13 lead. The Warriors were able to make a comeback, pulling to within two after a 9-4 run, making the score 24-22. The Petrels were able to finish off the set for a 25-22 victory.

However, from that point, Hendrix took control of the match, winning the final three sets. The Petrels had a 6-4 lead early in the set and maintained a 9-8 lead later in the stanza. Hendrix went on a huge run to take control of the set, though, embarking on a 13-3 push to take a 21-12 lead. They went on to win the set, 25-14.

In the third, Oglethorpe took a 4-1 lead early in the set, but Hendrix went on a 9-3 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Warriors continued the run with six straight points, taking a 16-9 advantage. They build the lead to eight, 22-14, but the Petrels were able to rally, rolling off four straight points to cut the Hendrix lead to 22-18. However, Hendrix was able to close out the set by winning three of the final four points, securing the 25-19 victory and a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set did not go well for the Petrels at all. They cut an early 3-0 Hendrix lead to 3-2 and still trailed by just four, 9-5, later in the set. However, the Petrels would not win another point, as Hendrix killed off 16 in a row to take the final set, 25-5. 

The Petrels now fall to 13-14 on the season, 2-9 in SAA play. They'll host their final home matches of the season on Sunday, taking on SAA rival Rhodes at 1 p.m. in Dorough Field House before battling Fisk at 5 p.m. It will be Senior Day and the program will celebrate the careers of their four graduating seniors: Megan Makuck, Anna Marie DiSalvo, McKenna Bondarenko and Lisa Inglis.

Saturday was Dig Pink day for the Oglethorpe volleyball program as they raise money for the Side-Out Foundation's effort for breast cancer research and awareness. The program will still be accepting donations until Nov. 1. If you'd like to donate, click here.