Sports
Ohio Volleyball Sweeps Kent State on the Road
By: Max McDulin
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Ohio volleyball defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes in Kent, Ohio, on Friday night 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-18). The win moves the Bobcats to 3-0 in conference play, and to 13-3 on the season.
After going undefeated in conference play last year, the question on everyone’s minds this year was how could Ohio keep that high level of play up? So far they’ve answered that question with a sweep of Bowling Green, a win over rival Miami, and a sweep against Kent State. The win over the Flashes may have been the biggest so far this year, just because it was such a complete win.
“I normally have things I want the team to work on as soon as a match is over, to be honest I haven’t thought of any yet for tonight though,” Ohio head coach Deane Webb said after the win. “We played well. Very well.” The reason he had nothing to say negatively was because the ‘Cats were in control of every facet of the match.
Ohio won the first set 25-16, and Kent State knew this was a tough team to come back from behind and beat so the Golden Flashes dug in during the second. Ohio didn’t flinch though as every time Kent St. had any momentum it seemed Abby Gilleland, Meredith Ashy and Jamie Kosiorek were there to put a stop to it. Ohio ended up taking the second set 25-19.
The third was a little more intriguing as Ohio led early, but then Kent State battled back to make it as close as 12-10. One of the plays that could be lost in all the action was a huge moment at Ohio leading 14-10. Kosiorek placed a beautiful ball for an ace after an incredibly long point prior to that.
That sequence of events defined the night. Kent State fought long and hard, scraping for everything it could get. Ohio though just had the power and will to come out with the victory.
The victory is the 27th-straight conference win for Ohio. Kosiorek had nine kills and nine digs, and Gilleland had an impressive night collecting a double-double as she had 33 assists and 16 digs.
Next up for the Bobcats is a matchup against the Eastern Michigan Eagles in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Eagles are 8-7 this year, but 0-2 in MAC play.