SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Oakland University volleyball team opened its 2021 season with a pair of tightly-contested losses to No. 16 Western Kentucky (20-25, 23-25, 19-25) and Loyola Chicago (22-25, 25-15, 19-25, 20-25) on Friday at the Golden Dome Invitational. 


Fifth-year senior Jamie Walling had an all-around performance for the Golden Grizzlies (0-2), as she tallied a team-leading 11 kills at a .333 hitting clip along with three blocks and two digs. Redshirt freshman Patti Cesarini assisted in the attack with nine kills, while senior Brittany Welch finished with eight kills on 19 swings (.316%). The setter duo AnnaBelle Tomei and Madison Ross combined for 28 assists. 

Defensively, fifth-year senior Lindsay Wightman totaled a match-high 26 digs. The AVCA First Team All-Region First recipient added six assists and OU's lone service ace. Another senior in Jessica Riedl tied Walling for the team lead in blocks with three. 

Oakland's opening set of the 2021 season went back-and-forth with 12 ties and five lead changes. The Golden Grizzlies jumped out to an early 3-1 advantage, but WKU (1-0), a program anchored by three All-Americans from a season ago, quickly evened the set at 3-all following two-straight points. After the midway point of the set, the teams remained tied, 16-16. However, the Hilltoppers proceeded to go on a 9-4 run to claim a 25-20 set victory. 

In the following set, Golden Grizzlies were down 11-7 but battled back with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 12-all. From that point forward, neither program led by more than two points. Despite OU gaining a 21-20 advantage following a kill by Cesarini, WKU concluded the set with another late run to finish on top, 25-23. 

The Hilltoppers raced out to a 5-0 lead in the third and final set. Later on, a 3-0 run grew the WKU lead to 16-6. Walling's 10th kill of the match reduced the Oakland deficit to five, 20-15. The late rally ultimately fell short, as Western Kentucky clinched the season-opening match with a 25-19 set win.


Walling was impressive for the second-straight match, as she finished with a match-best 19 kills at a .441 hitting clip. Additionally, the middle hitter garnered three blocks and three digs. Cesarini and Welch also thrived in the attack with kill totals of 15 and 11, respectively. Tomei helped out offensively with 27 assists, while junior Madison Ross was close behind with 16 assists of her own.

On the defensive side of things, Wightman had a match-high 22 digs. Redshirt freshman Kennedy Dolmage notched a career-best 11 digs, while Cesarini and Tomei had nine apiece. Riedl was at her best against the Loyola attack with a team-leading four blocks. 

The first set featured even play, as the teams were tied at 15-all following a kill by Riedl. Loyola (1-0) erupted for four straight points to take a 19-15 lead, which proved too much for the Golden Grizzlies to overcome. While a Walling kill followed by an attack error by the Ramblers brought OU within one point, 23-22, the Missouri Valley Conference opponent earned the following two points to win the opening set, 25-23. 

OU's efficient hitting and stout defense turned out to be the difference-maker in set two. As a team, the Golden Grizzlies tallied 17 kills on 36 swings in the set while limiting the Ramblers to a .100 hitting percentage. Because of that, Oakland raced out to a 13-7 advantage that was never relinquished. A 4-0 run highlighted by kills from Wightman and Tomei extended the Golden Grizzly lead to 17-8. Cesarini closed the set with her 11th kill of the match to clinch a 25-15 set victory, the first of the 2021 season for Oakland.

Oakland built an early 5-3 lead in the third set, but the Ramblers responded with a 6-0 run to take a 9-5 advantage into a timeout. Loyola kept the momentum in its favor following the break, pushing its lead to 16-9. While the Golden Grizzlies threatened late by reducing their deficit to four, 23-19, Loyola held on for a 25-19 set win. 

In a match-deciding fourth set, the Golden Grizzlies found themselves in an 8-8 tie after Riedl and Ross notched consecutive kills. Later on, Loyola put the set out of reach with a 5-0 run, resulting in a 21-14 lead. The finishing result was a 25-20 set victory to clinch the match for the Ramblers. 

Oakland will conclude the tournament tomorrow against No. 25 Notre Dame at 11 a.m.