Sports
Ohio Rebounds At Eastern Michigan
< < Back toNo. 18 Ohio Volleyball bounced back from Thursday’s loss at Kent State with a win Saturday at Eastern Michigan, 25-23, 25-7, 21-25, 25-14.
The Bobcats battled from behind through the first set.
Eastern Michigan won the match’s first six points, forcing an early timeout by Ohio coach Ryan Theis. The Eagles held the lead for the vast majority of the opening set. Ohio gradually chipped away at the Eastern Michigan advantage – an advantage that was as high as 8 points – before tying the set at 21-21.
Two points later, Theis called on freshman defensive specialist Geneva Yee to serve with the score tied, 22-22. Ohio won two points on Yee’s serve to move within a point of winning the set, and Karin Bull finished the game with a kill two points later.
Bull had 11 kills and nine block assists for 15.5 points as Ohio’s leading scorer.
The Bobcats grabbed the early lead in the second set and cruised to a 2-0 lead. Ohio won 18 of 24 points on serve in the set, allowing the Eagles only six side outs.
Early in the second set, junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti reorded her 900th career dig. The reigning MAC Player of the Year recorded her 1,000th kill Sept. 28 against Akron. She is the third player in school history to notch 1,000 kills and 900 digs in a career.
After the intermission, Eastern Michigan again got off to a good start, taking a 4-0 lead in the third set. Ohio trailed for the entirety of the set and never drew within less than 2 points of the lead.
In the fourth, the Bobcats used a quick start to run away with the match. Ohio grabbed a 6-0 lead and held a steady, comfortable advantage through the end of the match.
Setter Abby Gilleland turned in an all-around performance with 43 assists, seven kills, five blocks, 17 digs and three aces.
Lamberti had 12 kills and 18 digs, and Alexis Pinson matched Bull’s 11 kills at the other middle blocker spot. Bull, Lamberti, Pinson, Gilleland and freshman outside hitter Katie Horton all scored in double figures for Ohio.
Ohio (15-3, 5-1 MAC) hosts the top two teams in the MAC West next week in Toledo (11-9, 4-2) and Ball State (17-4, 5-1).