Sports
Ohio Volleyball: Bobcats Keep the Foot on the Gas, Sweep Ball State
By: Nick Viland
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) —History did not repeat itself in the Convocation Center on Friday afternoon, as the Bobcats (5-4) were able to clean sweep the Ball State Cardinals (6-6).
On Thursday, the Bobcats went up two sets to none over the Cardinals and allowed that game to slip through their fingers and lose 3-2. On Friday, a déjà vu moment occurred when Ohio again took a two-set lead over Ball State.
“It was a mindset change, we knew what it felt like when we were in it [Thursday],” redshirt-freshman Caitlin O’Farrell said. “We just knew we had to finish and execute, so [Ball State] couldn’t come back.”
Ohio executed and was able to take the third set and the match, 26-24.
Emily Margolies made her season debut for the Bobcats, but was forced to play outside of her usual position. Even with the position change, Margolies had the second-most kills on the team with 11 and had one assist on the day.
“We didn’t make the decision until a couple minutes before the game on if she was going to start,” head coach Deane Webb said. “She went out and made the most of her opportunity and I am really proud of her.”
With this win the Bobcats move back to a winning record and stand at 5-4. With six postponements, Ohio will soon have to play catchup in this unusual spring season.
“We’re behind,” Webb said. “It was weird coming into this weekend playing seven matches and there are teams in [the MAC] that have played 12. We’re about to do a lot of catching up by playing 13 matches in 25 days.”
Every win is crucial in this season, but today felt even more important for Webb.
“Every win is important, but the wins against the teams that are right around you in the standings are even more important, so this win was one of those.”
Following this win, Ohio goes on the road on Monday to face-off against Eastern Michigan at 2:00 EST.