Sports
Bobcat Volleyball Loses to Louisville in Fifth Set
By: Max McDulin
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After a pair of sweeps for Ohio volleyball against Utah and Seton Hall the Bobcats played a long five-set match against Active Ankle Challenge host Louisville. Eventually the Cardinals defeated the Bobcats 3-2 (25-19, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9). For its performance on the weekend Ohio’s Abby Gilleland and Meredith Ashy received all-tournament team honors.
The ‘Cats followed a familiar theme this weekend as they did last. After coming out victorious in their first two matches each weekend, the third matchup turned out to be too much both times. The Bobcats real chance in this one seemed to come with a huge swing of momentum in the fourth set.
After going down early 19-9 they brought it within two at 23-21 and it seemed like a comeback might have been on. But the train lost its steam, Louisville stopped making mistakes, and the Cards’ took the fourth set 25-23.
With Ohio having seemingly used up all its energy to get back into the fourth set, Louisville did not have a difficult time as they just wore out the Ohio attack and won the fifth 15-9. Ohio was trailing from the get-go and coach Deane Webb took a couple of timeouts in the fifth set in an attepmt to reenergize his team, but it seemed like the Bobcats tank was finally empty.
The first set saw a lost opportunity for Ohio as they were leading 15-12 forcing Louisville to take a timeout. Whatever adjustments the Cards’ made in that timeout flipped the set around as they took 13 of the next 15 points and won the set 25-17.
Ohio flipped the script in the second set though as they were trailing 13-8 and it was their turn to take a timeout and come out with an adjustment. The Bobcats labored against an unrelenting Louisville attack, but Ohio endured the Cardinals to come up with a set victory. To close off the set Mallory Salis had a beautifully placed ball drop in for an ace as Ohio tied it up 1-1 with a 27-25 set.
The third set finished with a final score of 25-23 in favor of the Bobcats, but that score really didn’t properly tell the story. Ohio was in control throughout the third as it didn’t let Louisville lead once, dominating throughout.
Next for Ohio is a trip to Ft. Myers, Florida. The trip includes match ups against Florida Atlantic on Friday at 12:30 p.m., then a 7 p.m. matchup against Florida Gulf Coast.