HIRAM, Ohio -- The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team moved to 8-3 for the season with a split on day one of the Hiram College Tournament. The Spartans opened with a tough five-set defeat versus Otterbein University before rallying to defeat Kalamazoo College (Mich.) in four sets.

Case completes weekend action on Saturday versus Geneva College (Pa.) and host Hiram College at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.

The Spartans fell to Otterbein (9-2 overall) in five sets in a match that featured several momentum swings. The Cardinals won the opening two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-10 before Case answered and evened the match at 2-2 behind scores of 25-15 and 25-23 in sets three and four. Otterbein eventually prevailed and won the match via a 15-7 score in the decisive fifth set.

Senior middle hitter Tricia McCutchan (Hamilton, Ohio/Stephen T. Badin) posted a team-high 13 kills against the Cardinals. Freshman middle hitter Natalie Southard (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors School) and junior setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) posted 12 and six kills, respectively. Freeman also dished out 35 assists and junior libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) led the defensive charge recording 17 digs while Southard finished with two block solos and three block assists.

Case and Kalamazoo (3-6 overall) went four sets with the Spartans prevailing. The Hornets won the first set 25-18, but the Spartans responded sweeping the next three sets by tallies of 25-18, 25-15 and 25-23. McCutchan led the attack with 15 kills on 40 attempts with two errors. Senior outside hitter Rachael Suchy (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Southard each posted 14 kills while Freeman posted a double-double with 43 assists to go along with 19 digs. Junior defensive specialist Alexandria Drake (Phoenix, Ariz./Shadow Mountain) finished with a career-high 18 digs while Gulasey led the defensive effort with 21 digs.

Following tomorrow's matches, the Spartans return to action on Tuesday, September 20 when they play host to The College of Wooster inside Horsburgh Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Thus far this season at home, Case boasts a 4-1 overall record.