Lindenwood Women’s Volleyball Claims Historic OVC Championship
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Lindenwood women’s volleyball team (23-10, 14-4 OVC) made history by winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship after defeating #4 Morehead State with a commanding score of 3-0. This victory marks the first conference championship at the Division I level for the program and the most wins in a single season since 2011.
The Lindenwood offense excelled with a total of 38 kills and a hitting percentage of .246 across three sets. Allie Otten played a pivotal role, tallying 28 assists, nine digs, and two aces, earning her the title of Tournament MVP. Otten’s weekend performance included 110 assists (averaging 10.00 assists per set) and 33 digs, along with four aces, two blocks, and eight kills.
Joining Otten on the OVC All-Tournament team were Jessie Seidel and Addy McAleer. Seidel contributed 11 digs and a team-high three aces in the championship match, while McAleer led with eight kills, adding three block assists and one solo block.
Autumn Bax hit an impressive .353 with eight kills and four block assists, showcasing her offensive prowess. Rebecca Janke also exceeded a .300 hitting percentage, contributing eight kills on 23 attempts. The team collectively recorded eight total blocks and an impressive 57 digs, with three players achieving double-digit digs. Leading the defense was Nyah Wilson with 17 digs along with seven kills, while Dana Grib added 10 digs off the bench.
The Lions made a strong statement in the first set, winning 25-16 while hitting .370 with 11 kills and registering seven aces—the most in a set for the season. Both Lexi Menne and Seidel secured two aces each. Following a timeout from Morehead State at 12-7, Lindenwood responded with a 4-2 run, extending their lead to 16-9, with Wilson leading the charge with three kills and an ace.
Set two saw Lindenwood maintain their momentum, winning 25-18. The Lions established a commanding 10-2 lead, fueled by two early kills from McAleer. Lindenwood hit .229 with 13 kills on 35 attempts and forced Morehead State into six attack errors, resulting in a .103 hitting percentage for them.
In the decisive third set, Lindenwood secured the championship with a 25-15 victory. The Lions finished off the set on a 3-0 run, culminating in McAleer’s eighth kill. The offense notched 14 kills while limiting Morehead State to a mere .059 hitting percentage and six errors. Janke contributed five kills, while McAleer added four, ensuring a strong finish to the match.
With a total of 2,122 points, Lindenwood concluded the 2024 season as the highest-scoring team in the OVC, leading the conference with 1,722 kills and 1,601 assists. Coach Condon was named the OVC Coach of the Year, finishing the season with a stellar 23-10 record, including a 14-4 mark in conference play. Under his guidance, five players received All-Conference honors, including Otten as OVC Setter of the Year and Bax as Freshman of the Year.
This championship achievement adds to Lindenwood’s recent success, as their women’s soccer team also clinched its first OVC Tournament Championship earlier this fall. With both teams winning conference titles in different sports during the academic year, Lindenwood stands out as the only OVC institution to accomplish this milestone.
