GRANVILLE, OH – The Houghton Highlanders dropped a pair of non-league games on Saturday afternoon, the second day of the Big Red Invitational at Denison College, falling to Centre College and #23 Ohio Northern University, both by scores of 3-0. 
 
Both opponents displayed formidable offense attacks, posting 39 and 36 kills, and posting impressive attack percentages of .226 and .338, respectively.
 
Houghton hung tough in both matches, only to see their opponents pull away down the stretch in each set. 
 
GAME VITALS
Game #1:
Score: Houghton – 0 | Centre – 3
Records: Houghton: 0-2 | Centre: 3-1
Scores: 18-25, 18-25, 23-25
Venue: Livingston Gymnasium, Denison University | Attendance: 76

Game #2:
Score: Houghton – 0 | #23 Ohio Northern – 3
Records: Houghton: 0-3 | #23 Ohio Northern: 2-0
Scores: 15-25, 21-25, 10-25
Venue: Livingston Gymnasium, Denison University | Attendance: 68

NOTABLE STATS
>> Julie Immel posted a team-high 15 kills on the day (9 and 6, respectively), while anchored the defense with 17 total digs (9 and 8, respectively).
 
>> Haley Unverdorben recorded 41 assists, giving her a career total of 2,230, ranking her fourth on the all-time Houghton career leader board.  She trails third place-holder Megan Phipps (2007-2010, 3,268 career assists) by 1,038 assists at present (stats verifiable 1995-present). 
 
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm proud of the competitive heart of our team and the leadership of our senior class. We demonstrated we can play with ranked programs and teams who outsize us. We will be better quickly for having started off with this challenge and we look forward to hitting our home court again this week." –Interim Head Coach Judy Fox
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center for their home opener against the Hilbert Hawks, Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m.  Houghton is 8-0, all-time, against the Hawks, including a victory in their most recent matchup, 3-0, on September 22, 2021, also played at the Nielsen Center.