Sports
Ohio earns a 3-1 victory over Northern Illinois
By: Maria Monesi
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Ohio battled to earn a 3-1 win against Northern Illinois on Thursday night.
Both teams battled in the opening set. The Bobcats struggled to get in a groove, and it was the Huskies who were able to take advantage. That allowed the Huskies to take a set one victory, 25-19.
“We really switched lineup up after the first set,” head coach Geoff Carlston said. “We put a really young lineup out there. That’s one of the things as a coach you hope it works.”
Ohio turned things around in the second set. It moved players around and was able to gain some momentum. That led Ohio to go on an eight-point run and it eventually took the second set 25-17.
The Bobcats continued to battle in the third set. They were able to utilize a variety of players like Anna Kharchynska and Caitlin O’Farrell to help lead the offense. The defense prevented the Huskies from going on big runs as the Bobcats took the third set.
Kharchynska led the Bobcats with 18 kills and continues to step up for the Bobcats.
“She’s kind of coming into her own which has been cool to see,” Carlston said. “We’re asking a lot of her, playing six rotations so I thought she did a good job.”
Although Northern Illinois tried to comeback, multiple aces from O’Farrell at the end of the fourth set allowed Ohio to pull away to a 25-20 victory.
The Bobcats now shift their focus to a tough test when they host Western Michigan on Friday night.
“We just need to get some rest and come in and come ready to go,” Carlston said. “Western’s playing really at a high level right now. They’re old, they’re really experienced in some really key positions like the libero and the setter.”