The Case Western Reserve University women's volleyball team beat Capital University 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15) on Friday night in Bexley, Ohio.

The Spartans begin the 2016 season 1-0 and head into the second day of the Capital / Otterbein Invitational.

CWRU was led on the attack by freshman outside hitter Brianna Lemon who tallied 12 kills. Senior outside hitter Marian Barton contributed four kills and two service aces and senior middle hitter Kayla Pfaff added six kills. Sophomore setter Shannon Carroll rounded up 22 assists. In the back of the court for the Spartans, sophomore libero Karina Bondelid led CWRU with 19 digs, freshman defensive specialist Christine Tamura tallied 10 and Carroll contributed nine through the match.     

At the net, Pfaff recorded nine total blocks for the Spartans with freshman middle hitter Haley Sims adding five to the tally.

After splitting the first four points of the first set, the Spartans went on an 11-4 run to take a 15-8 lead behind five kills from Sims. After the Crusaders closed the gap to eight points, 18-10, CWRU scored seven of the final 12 points to finish the set.

After tying the score early twice in the second set, the Spartans took the lead and never looked back. CWRU carried the advantage in kills, 9-7, as Sims finished the set with a kill for the 25-13 win.

The third set belonged to Capital, which traded points with the Spartans before the Crusaders scored the final two points to clinch the match.

CWRU rallied in the fourth set by going on an 8-2 run to clinch the match.

The Spartans will be back in action at the Capital / Otterbein Invitational in Bexley, Ohio on Saturday. CWRU will open play against Earlham College at 10:30 a.m. and then conclude the tournament with a match at 12:30 p.m against Kenyon College.