Sports

Freshman Meredith Ashy Hopes to Head Home for NCAA Tournament


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Ohio University Volleyball has high hopes going forward in the 2012 season, and freshman libero Meredith Ashy is a reason to hope. 

Ashy grew up in Louisville, Ky. where she attended Sacred Heart Academy, a private Catholic school. She competed on the varsity volleyball team during all four years of high school.
 
The young superstar was an All-Region, All-Catholic and All-District Tournament team selection in her senior season at Sacred Heart. She graduated with a pair of regional and state runner-up appearances; she also earned Kentucky Academic All-State recognition. 
     
After being recruited by The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), The University of Kentucky, Lipscomb and Indiana University, the freshman decided to bring her talents to Athens.
     
“I like the campus. He [Coach Ryan Theis] recruited me pretty late. I like how it’s [Ohio University] ‘D-1’; it was the perfect competitiveness for me. I like the MAC and how we’ve won many tournaments in the MAC,” says Ashy.
 
Ashy has proven to be a great addition for the ‘Cats.  
     
In her first tournament at Dayton’s Flyer Classic, Ashy set aside her freshman butterflies and played very well, making the all-tournament team. 
 
The freshman didn’t stop there.
 
Through nine games, Ashy is leading the team in digs with 140 and is second on the team with six service aces, solely trailing sophomore Kelly Lamberti’s 11 aces.
 
Between school, volleyball and a mild knee injury, Ashy has had a challenging experience getting adapted to the collegiate-level student athlete life.
 
“I go to my classes throughout the day and right after class I have to come here [The Convo] for treatment on my leg and then practice. I don’t get done with the day ‘til six at night,” said Ashy.
 
With this busy schedule, Ashy has been given a great load of help by a fellow freshman, setter Abby Gilliland. The two are roommates and share many classes, so they help each other out frequently.
 
The undecided freshman libero, thinking about a major in nutrition, has made an extraordinary impact for the Bobcats’ attack. Ashy feels that the Bobcats run the ball very quickly, making it hard for opponents to stop their attack.
  
Last year, the ‘Cats finished the season with a 25-12 record. Ohio concluded the season with a semi-finals loss to the eventual MAC tournament champions, Central Michigan University.
 
Like the 2011 season, the Bobcats have jumped off to a slow start with a 4-5 record. 
 
Ashy will try her best to help make Ohio a very competitive and effective team for the rest of the season. The NCAA tournament is in her hometown of Louisville, Ky. this year, so there’s an added incentive to improving. 
 
Ashy’s dream is to take the Bobcats to Kentucky for nice home cooked meal and a spot in the 2012 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.