BLUFFTON, Ohio -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology put up a strong battle against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference leader Bluffton University and nationally ranked Hope College, before falling in a pair of matches on Saturday at Bluffton University.
Rose-Hulman took the first set over Bluffton 25-21, before the hosts came back for 25-12, 25-17, 25-19 victories in the remaining sets. Bluffton improved to 3-0 in HCAC play, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 3-1 in league games.
In the nightcap, Rose-Hulman put up a fight against No. 18 ranked Hope before falling in five sets. Hope won the opening two sets 25-13, 25-20, before Rose-Hulman forced a fifth set with consecutive wins 28-26 and 27-25. Hope came through in the final set with a 15-11 victory.
In the opener, Marissa Gollnick led the Rose-Hulman with a double-double featuring 11 kills and 10 digs. She also tied Mia Styczynski with a team-high three block assists.
Bailey MacInnis added nine kills, with Styczynski adding seven. Katie Orbeta led the team with 39 assists. Katryna Dahlberg had 21 digs, and was joined in double figures by Gollnick and Adekite Oladipupo with 10 digs each.
In the nightcap, Grace Beach paced the Rose-Hulman offense with 16 kills. Gollnick was also in double figures with 12 kills and added 14 digs.
Orbeta once again had the assist lead with 42, and Dahlberg recorded 28 digs in the five-set finale. Dahlberg also had three service aces, and Gabrielle Gilbertson contributed two service aces.
Hope improved to 13-3, while Rose-Hulman stands 13-10 overall. The Fightin' Engineers return to action at home on Wednesday against Franklin College.
