Ohio Northern University vs. Mount St. Joseph NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Semifinal

4:30 p.m. -- Ohio Northern (29-7) def. Mount St. Joseph (32-6)
3-0 (30-21, 30-28, 30-21)

The Ohio Northern Polar Bears came up with a surprisingly easy 3-0 (30-21, 30-28, 30-21) victory over the Mount St. Joseph Mountie Lions in NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region semifinal action at Wittenberg University's HPER Center. ONU, champions of the Ohio Athletic Conference and the 12th-ranked team in the nation coming into the tournament, improved to 29-7 and will compete for the regional title for the second time in the last three years, while the Lions, champions of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and the sixth-ranked team in Division III coming in, bowed out with a 32-6 overall record.

Ohio Northern was tremendous from start to finish, playing great defense to go along with the team's trademark hard-hitting offensive style. Statistically, Karlee Kanuckel recorded 29 digs and Hannah Kanuckel added 18 to lead the defense. In transition, Erika Roof distributed 44 assists, with Diane Gehret taking the most advantage as she pounded 17 kills and finished with a .500 attack percentage. Hannah Kanuckel added 10 kills. Gehret also has a team-best four blocks.

Mount St. Joseph, which was the regional runner-up a year ago and had defeated Ohio Northern 3-0 earlier this season, got 23 assists from Meghan Meador and 19 more from Molly Middendorf to pace the offensive attack. Tammi Toney led with 16 kills, while Jayne Kemphaus and Beth Fledderjohan added 11 kills apiece. In the backcourt, Kemphaus led with 18 digs, Meador added 13, Toney had 10 and Rachel Estes finished with 10.

The Bears take on the winner of the other semifinal between Wittenberg and Alma. That match will be at 7 p.m. Saturday in the HPER Center.