By Caleb Scott

SPRINGFIELD — The Ohio Northern volleyball team used a balanced offensive scoring attack as it defeated No. 9-ranked Washington (Mo.) in four sets on the first day of the Wittenberg Fall Classic.

The Polar Bears improve to 8-2 on the year, while the Bears fall to 5-4.

Senior Haley Potters (Wheelersburg/South Webster) and sophomore Sydney Bapst (Grove City) led the way for Northern offensively, recording 11 kills each in the victory.

Sophomore Chelsea Huppert (Bremen, Ind.) chipped in nine kills for Northern.

After WashU was able to close the gap to 18-16 in the first set, Northern ripped off seven straight points capped off by a kill from Potters to seal the 

Northern would fall in the second set before winning sets three and four to seal the victory.

In the third set, Northern got off to a fast start as Potters and sophomore McKenna Jordan (Toledo/St. Ursula) each recorded two kills and sophomore McKenna Hostetler (Plain City/Alder) added an ace.

ONU would stretch the lead to as many as eight in the set before going on to claim set three 25-21.

After an attack error by ONU allowed Washington (Mo.) to close the gap to 9-7 in the final set, Northern would score seven straight points behind four service aces from defensive specialist and junior Michaela Sharlow(Tiffin/Columbian) to extend its lead to 16-7.

Northern would go on to win the set 25-16 en route to its eighth victory of the season.

The Polar Bears return to action tomorrow morning as they take on Clarkson (N.Y.) at 10 am before wrapping up the Wittenberg Fall Classic with a matchup against No. 3-ranked Wittnenberg.