Sports
Ohio Volleyball: Bobcats Continue Home Dominance with Win over Western Michigan
By: Bryan Kurp
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ATHENS, OH – Ohio returned to the Convocation Center Friday night with a four-game losing streak. The Bobcats (9-13, 4-5) were able to get back in the win column as they swept the Western Michigan Broncos (13-10, 3-6) 25-20, 25-20, 25-13.
Home court has been very advantageous for the Bobcats, as they have a 5-2 home record on the season.
“It’s just great to be home,” Fifth-year coach Deane Webb said. “It’s just comfortable. Whether it’s serving and passing or used to the sight lines. Whether it’s having the fans and all that stuff. It makes the Convo a great home court.”
Fifth-year senior Jaime Kosiorek led the way for the Bobcats with 13 kills and three service aces. Kosiorek’s third service ace made her the all-time leader in aces in school history with 163, surpassing the previous record set by Stephanie Blackburn in 2007.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind,” Kosiorek said of her accomplishment. “It became a reality this season.”
Lizzie Stephens added 11 kills and Stephanie Olman had eight kills in her first career start. Vera Giacomazzi accounted for 37 of the Bobcats’ 42 assists.
On the defensive end, the Bobcats had six team blocks and Kosiorek had 13 digs. Macy Reihing and Lizzie Stephens added ten and nine digs, respectively. Sophomore Tia Jimerson had two solo blocks in her first home match of the season.
Ohio had the momentum from the start of the match as they defeated the Broncos in the first set, 25-20. Kosiorek and Stephens had impressive hit percentages in the first half – Kosiorek had a .778 hit percentage while Stephens had a .700 hit percentage. Kosiorek and Reihing each had a service ace.
The Bobcats never trailed in the second set and defeated Western Michigan 25-20. Giacomazzi and Olman had four kills each, and Stephens accounted for the Bobcats’ only service ace of the set.
Ohio completed the sweep of Western Michigan with a 25-13 win in the third set, snapping the Bobcats’ four-game losing streak.
“It’s incredibly important to build on this,” Webb said. “Not so much because the streak, but just to get back to .500 in conference play. We still believe we have enough talent to win the conference tournament.”
The Bobcats host Northern Illinois on Saturday at 6 p.m.