Tampa, Fla.- The University of Findlay volleyball team, ranked no. 24 in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) poll, wrapped up play at the Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Volleyball Classic on Friday, Sept. 6, with a split. The Oilers swept Lander 3-0 before falling 3-1 to no. 10 and host Tampa in the nightcap.

In their opener, the Oilers rolled past Peach Belt Conference foe Lander with a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-19, 25-14). The Bearcats, who reached last season's NCAA Southeast Regional Final, had no answer for Findlay as the Orange and Black secured the decisive win to move to 2-0, while Lander dropped to 0-2.

Findlay set the tone early, jumping out to an 11-3 lead behind a run of seven straight points. The Oilers later strung together another seven unanswered to push the margin to 18-4, cruising to a 25-17 victory in the opening set.

Set two was more competitive, but Findlay held off the Bearcats to take the frame. In set three, the Oilers regained control with an early lead that Lander was never able to challenge.

As a team, Findlay hit .319, collecting 46 kills and committing 10 errors. Meanwhile, Lander recorded a .075 hitting percentage while amassing just 25 kills with 17 errors. 

Junior Hannah Miller paced the Oilers with a team-high 12 kills, while seniors Makenna Belcher and Alana Pohlman followed with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, each hitting .333. Junior Abria Lomax was also efficient, finishing with seven kills on a .412 percentage.

Junior setter Emma White directed the attack with 34 assists and added 11 digs defensively. Miller also led the defense with a team-best 12 digs.

Game Two vs. #10 Tampa | L 3-1
In their second match of the day, the Oilers dropped a four-set battle to Tampa, 3-1 (26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-17). The Spartans, who advanced to last year's NCAA South Regional Final before falling to eventual national champion Lynn, came away with the win.

The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle with 17 ties. After fending off a set point to force extra play, the Oilers closed it out with a kill from senior Alana Pohlman and a Tampa attack error to secure the early lead.

The Oilers led much of the second set, but a late 5-2 run gave Tampa a 23-21 edge. The teams later traded points to reach 23-23 and 24-24 before the Spartans closed out the set with back-to-back points, tying the match at 1-1.

Findlay was unable to keep pace with the Spartans in sets three and four, ultimately dropping both and falling 3-1 on the road.

Findlay finished the match with a .201 hitting percentage, recording 56 kills and 25 errors. Tampa hit .267, also tallying 56 kills while committing 16 errors.

Senior Makenna Belcher led the Orange and Black with 15 kills and three solo blocks, while fellow senior Alana Pohlman added 13 kills on a .300 hitting clip.

Senior Lauren Foerster and junior Hannah Miller each contributed 10 kills, rounding out the team's strong offensive effort.

Miller and junior Kirsten Bomholt led Findlay's defense with 11 digs each, while senior Emma White added 10. White also paced the team in assists, recording 44 on the night.

Findlay returns to action Friday, Sept. 12, to open the Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic. The Oilers will start the three-game series with a 10am matchup against Gannon.