Sports
Ohio Only Drops One Set in Win Over Kent State
By: Alex Harrison
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The Ohio Bobcats may have struggled to begin the season, but Mid-American Conference play has brought out the wrath expected from the Bobcats. This time, Kent State fell victim in Ohio’s 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16) win Thursday night.
Ohio had no issue in the first set as Jaime Kosiorek had three service aces and Mallory Salis had seven kills. The Bobcats were strong-minded to begin, but that slipped as well as the second set.
The Golden Flashes took the second set 25-21. Kent State didn’t win by outplaying the Bobcats, but just having the fewest errors.
Ohio had the same number of kills (13), assists (12) and digs (15) as Kent State, but the Bobcats’ five service errors took the match away. Three of Ohio’s five service errors came while either tied or down by one point.
Kent State kept the third set close again, but while tied at 21, the Bobcats took four of the set’s final five points. Ohio took the fourth set easily, 25-16, after an early five-point run kept the Bobcats away from the Golden Flashes.
Senior captain Mallory Salis returned to her dominant form against the Golden Flashes. Salis dominated, especially in the backline, for 22 kills and 13 digs.
“Definitely tonight I felt more in a groove,” said Salis. “We’ve been working on the backrow attack and ever since I was a freshman that’s something I was in there to do since I was a back-up DS. So getting those constant reps in the back row really helps me in the front row.”
A surprise for Ohio was freshman Natalie Burchesky making her first start. Burchesky was big at the net with two solo blocks and assists on three blocks.
Kent State (9-9, 2-3) returns home on Saturday for Central Michigan (9-8, 2-3). The Bobcats (8-9, 4-1) will stay at the Convo on Saturday for Eastern Michigan (7-11, 2-3).