WESTERVILLE, OH – The Cabrini volleyball team saw one of the best seasons in program history come to an end tonight, as the Cavaliers suffered a 3-0 loss at No. 25 Otterbein in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

The loss ends the Blue and White's season with a record of 29-7, tied with the 2013 team for most wins in program history.

The defeat also ends the career of the Cavaliers' three seniors, Chelsea Jones, Anne-Marie Jones and Kaylee Plisinski, a group led Cabrini to 98 victories, including a perfect 44-0 in CSAC matches with four consecutive conference championships.

The Cavaliers never found their rhythm in tonight's 25-13, 25-15, 25-17 loss to the Cardinals, as they recorded a season low .043 hitting percentage and a season high 13 service receipt errors.

Freshman Steph Judkins led Cabrini with seven kills, two more than Anne-Marie Jones, who closed her career with 1,096 career kills, second in program history.

Freshman Morgan Collito paired four kills and five digs, while Plisinski tallied three total blocks.  

Junior Ashley Shannon posted 18 assists, five digs and two aces, as classmate Emily Shannon recorded a match-high 15 digs.

The Cavaliers and Cardinals took the floor at a packed Rike Athletic Center for the final of tonight's four matches to open the Westerville Regional.

The Blue and White kept the match close in the early going, but leading 14-9, Otterbein scored eight of the next 10 points to double the Cavaliers at 22-11.

After building an early lead in the second frame, the Blue and White saw the Cardinals use a 4-1 spurt to take a commanding 17-10 lead midway through the set.

Cabrini tried to post a rally, pulling within 17-13 on a Plisnski kill. The Cavaliers got no closer, as Otterbein recorded eight of the set's final 10 points.

With its season on the line, Cabrini continued to battle into the final set, building an early lead. Holding an 11-10 lead, Otterbein took control of the set with an 11-2 run, pushing its lead to 22-12.

Despite its deficit, the Blue and White would not go quietly, fighting off three match points before a Cardinal kills ended the match.

Hadley Sterett led Otterbein (30-3) with 14 kills, while Andrea Miller recorded 28 assists. Ashlyn Leon and Olivia Harris combined for 25 digs for the Cardinals.

With the win, Otterbein advances to Saturday's regional semifinal, where it will face No. 20 Ohio Northern (28-5), who defeated DePauw (20-8) 3-2. Saturday's match will mark the second time the team will meet in the last seven days, as the Cardinals topped ONU 3-0 in last Saturday's OAC championship.

In Friday's other action, No. 19 Juniata (24-8) rallied for a 3-1 victory over Brockport (26-9), while No. 3 Wittenburg (23-2) topped Penn State-Behrend (19-12) 3-0.  Juniata and Wittenberg will open Saturday's action, with tomorrow's winners slated to meet in Sunday's regional final.