Sports

[Meg Kuczinski | WOUB Public Media]

Ohio Volleyball falls to Oakland, drops to 1-1 in Green & White Invitational

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Following a dominant win versus Liberty, Ohio dropped
their next game against Oakland 3-1.

Ohio’s standout sophomore Kam Hunt finished Friday’s performance with 14 kills
and led her squad. Head coach Geoff Carlston praised her play after Friday’s
contest versus Liberty.

“Kam’s a sophomore,” Carlston said. “We kind of forget how young she is. She’s our
leader on the court, we did some surveys earlier in the year, her and Anna, those
were the people we lean on on the floor.”

Kam Hunt goes for a kill against Oakland. [HG Biggs | WOUB Public Media]
Hunt would continue her dominance into Saturday. The Bobcats came into the
second game of the Green and White Invite after a sweep versus Liberty.

However, the Golden Grizzlies would easily stop any momentum the Bobcats had in
the first set.

A back-and-forth set put Oakland into the driver’s seat after the first media timeout,
with back-to-back kills from Tyler Linkhart and Libby Smith.

However, the Bobcats would battle back. Olivia Gardner’s third kill of the set came
at a crucial time, bringing the Bobcats within 2.

However, Oakland wouldn’t be pressured. A service error from Ohio put this set on
ice, taking the first set 25-23.

The Golden Grizzlies came off a sweep versus Eastern Kentucky and had only won 2
sets so far in the tournament. However, they quickly matched that number in the
second set.

The second set started just like the previous one, very back and forth from both
teams. A service ace from Christina Bohm gave the Golden Grizzlies a one-point
lead going into the first break.

Gentry Brown called game with a kill for match point, 25-23 Golden Grizzlies.

Just like that: Ohio was on the ropes. However, the Bobcats would respond in a
bring way.

It was nothing but dominance in the third set for the Bobcats. A 25-14 set victory flipped
the script in this contest. Anna Kharchynska had 4 kills in this set alone. Kam Hunt topped Anna with 5.

Ohio seemingly had all of the momentum going into the fourth set. However, the
Golden Grizzlies jumped on the Bobcats early. A Libby Smith kill gave Oakland a 7-3
lead going into the first break.

Darbi Ricketts serving ace brought the score with 12-12 going into the second
break. Ohio quickly responded with their backs against the wall.

Despite a strong comeback, Ohio fell behind in the set again. After a kill from
Smith, the Bobcats would be down 23-20. Ohio would bring the score back to 24-23
with match point looming.

A Hunt service error would bring this contest to a close. 25-23 was the final in
the 4th, 3-1 being the final in favor of the Golden Grizzlies.

Smith and Bohm each had 12 kills for Oakland. Rachel Rossman
had 27 assists, and Emily Wichmann lead with 22 digs.

For the Bobcats, Hunt and Kharchynska had 19 and 17 kills each. Bryn
Janke had 31 assists, and Kendall Hickey lead with 23 digs.

Next up for Ohio: Eastern Kentucky 7:30 p.m. Saturday. For Oakland, they will host
Milwaukee on Sept. 27.