YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Fifth-year libero Lindsay Wightman broke a school record in digs in a three-set match, as the Oakland University volleyball program opened Horizon League play with a sweep over Youngstown State (25-20, 25-16, 27-25) on Friday evening at the Beeghly Center. 

Wightman set the tone early with a combined 26 digs after two sets. Needing five digs and a third set victory to break the previous record mark held by herself and one other, the Lake Orion, Mich., native added seven, resulting in a total of 33 digs. Meanwhile, the Golden Grizzlies (7-5, 1-0 HL) escaped with a 27-25 set win to clinch the conference opener. 

Graduate senior Jamie Walling paced the attack with a match-leading 17 kills. She also had seven digs and five blocks in the win. Redshirt freshman Patti Cesarini reached double-digit kills for the sixth time this season, as she finished with 11. 

Junior setter AnnaBelle Tomei helped out with a match-best 24 assists and 12 digs, which marked her third double-double of the 2021 campaign. Redshirt freshman Kennedy Dolmage tallied 10 digs to round out Golden Grizzlies with double-figures in the category. Senior Jessica Riedl controlled the net with a team-high six blocks. 

As a team, OU held YSU (3-9, 0-1 HL) to 33 kills and a .103 hitting percentage. Reigning Horizon League Player of the Week Paula Gursching led the Penguins with 13 kills and four aces but finished with a .123 striking percentage and eight errors. 

Youngstown State earned the first two points in the opening set, but the Golden Grizzlies responded with an 8-1 run to take an 8-3 lead. After the Penguins evened the set at 15-all, OU struck again, this time with a 4-0 run, which made it a 19-15 advantage. The set finished 25-20 in favor of the visiting Golden Grizzlies. Oakland posted 18 kills with a .318 hitting percentage and a mere four errors. Cesarini and Walling combined for 12 of the 18 kills, while Wightman started hot defensively with 13 digs. 

Up 12-8 in the following set, OU broke the period open with an 8-0 run, resulting in a 20-8 lead. The deficit was far too much for YSU to overcome, as Oakland came out on top, 25-16. Once again, Wightman paced the defense with 13 digs. Riedl added three blocks in the set, while Walling had two of her own in addition to six kills. 

The Golden Grizzlies faced their first notable deficit in the third set, as the Penguins led by as much as four, 14-10. Down 22-21 late in the frame, Oakland took the following three points to earn a 24-22 advantage. An ace by Walling clinched a 27-25 set win and a sweep for OU. 

Oakland will return to action tomorrow at Robert Morris. First serve is set for 4 p.m.