Sports
Ohio Volleyball Goes 2-0 to Start MAC Play, Downs Miami
By: Max McDulin
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Ohio volleyball defeated rival Miami on Saturday night 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 25-27, 25-20). The win moves Ohio to 12-3 on the season, and to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play.
The encouragement of the crowd was key throughout with long and taxing points, and the fans made their presence felt when needed most. As the ‘Cats led 21-20 they took a timeout and the crowd rose to their feet.
The energy helped the ‘Cats eventually serve out the contest in the final three points and gave Ohio the set (25-20), and most importantly the match.
After a slow first set against Bowling Green Friday night Ohio had quite the opposite start in this one. The Bobcats were able to take the first 25-20, due in large part to the play of Jamie Kosiorek. She hit .364, while only making one error, and she also added five digs throughout the first set.
The second set was back and forth until a 12-12 score, Ohio was able to collect three straight points on Kosiorek’s serve to go up 15-12. From that point Ohio really put its foot on the gas as they took the next 10 of 14 points to win the set 25-16.
After the break Miami seemed to have plenty of energy left in them.
“When we’re playing Miami, even if we’ve won the first two sets we expect them to keep fighting to come back,” Abby Gilleland said after the match. And fight is exactly what Miami had, as the RedHawks recorded 15 kills in the third set to take it to the deciding fourth that Ohio went on to win.
By far the player of the game in this one was Gilleland.
“There are nights you watch Abby play and you just go, oh yeah, this is the best player in the conference, and this was one of those nights,” coach Deane Webb said.
Gilleland had 39 assists, while recording 22 digs, and hitting a team high .414. There is no better way to describe her play, than that she seemed to be everywhere all at once.
Next for Ohio is what looks to be a tough road matchup at Kent State. Kent is 6-7 on the year but the Golden Flashes took Miami to five sets in a loss on Friday.