Sports

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB)- The Ohio Bobcats Volleyball Team took home the victory after a five-set thriller leading up to the Bobcat Invitational championship game.

The Bobcats came into their second game of the Bobcat Invitational following a sweep of Xavier to begin tournament play. However, this contest wasn’t too similar to the first.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers came into this contest 1-1 on the weekend, beating Xavier in five sets, and losing to Wright State in three sets.

It was clear from the start that this matchup was going to be a fun one.

The first set featured App State jumping out to an early 11-9 lead. However, the Bobcats would flip the script quickly.

Thanks to a kill from Kam Hunt and two serving aces from Lexi Grissett, Ohio took a 13-11 lead going into the first break.

But the Mountaineers weren’t done yet. A kill from Lulu Ambrose gave Appalachian State a 17-15 lead going into the finale of the first set.

Ohio regained the lead after a kill from Emily Waddell, giving Ohio a 21-18 lead. The Bobcats were just four points away from a set victory.

That would be all they needed. A service error from the Mountaineers put the first set on ice, as Ohio would go on to win 25-22. The first set featured three lead changes and a great punch-counterpunch matchup.

The second set would continue with that theme. Another close set would allow App State to go into the first break with a 13-10 advantage.

That would hold onto that three-point advantage going into the second break. Back-to-back blocks from Maya Winterhoff would give App State breathing room going into the set’s final points.

But the Bobcats weren’t out just yet. A solo block from Emily Waddell gave Ohio a slim one-point advantage to pull within one for set point.

As the match was all tied up at 24 a piece, two crucial attacking errors gave Ohio the set 26-24. Again, another set that featured three-lead changes.

Up to this point, the Bobcats hadn’t dropped a set all weekend. However, the Mountaineers wouldn’t allow that to stand much longer.

To continue with the same theme, App State would again hold a lead going into the first break. Another solo block from Maya Winterhoff would give the Lady Mountaineers a four- point advantage.

The Bobcats didn’t go away quietly. Anna Kharchynska would tie up the score at 23 after a monster kill, bringing both teams within two points of victory.

Ava Leahy and Maddie Smith would put back-to-back kills on the board, giving Appalachian State the third set and giving themselves a chance to force a fifth.

Again, the Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead. They held a 9-6 lead going into the first break, an 11-8 lead going into the second timeout and a 15-13 lead going into the set’s final stoppage.

There wouldn’t be a roaring comeback from the Bobcats in this set. The Mountaineers took the fourth set 25-18, setting up the stage for the game’s finale.

A great finale it would turn out to be. Stars shine brightest in their biggest moments, and that’s exactly what happened in this set. Maya Winterhoff and Lulu Ambrose lead the attack for the Mountaineers.

For the Bobcats, it was Anna Kharchynska, and shine bright she did. Six kills in the fifth set from her would allow the Lady Bobcats to take the final set 15-12.

Kharchynska lead the way for the Bobcats with 19 kills and seven total blocks. Kam Hunt followed suit with 16 kills herself. Lexi Grissett and Chariti McKeller combined for 45 assists.

Lulu Ambrose lead the Appalachian State charge with 15 kills and 12 digs. Maya Winterhoff would follow suit with 15 kills and seven total blocks. Julianna Horta and Addison Heidemann would combine for 51 assists.

Ohio will wrap up Bobcat Invitational play Saturday, while Appalachian State heads to the Mountaineer classic next weekend.