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[Thomas Henry | WOUB]

Ohio Volleyball tops Kent State in midweek match, gets back over .500 in MAC play

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Ohio Bobcats (9-11, 5-4 MAC) took on Kent State (1-18, 0-9 MAC) in a rare Tuesday night conference battle. Ohio came into this one coming off a win over rival Miami on Saturday and rode that momentum in a four set victory over Kent State.

The Bobcats found themselves in a hole early down 8-3 to the Golden Flashes, but quickly worked back into the game to take the first set. Sophomore outside hitter Kam Hunt had seven kills of her own to round out the set, winning 25-23. Ohio took control in the next set as well, as junior outside hitter Anna Kharchynska got up to nine kills through the second set.

Consistency has been an issue for the Bobcats all year, as they couldn’t close the door on Kent State in the third set, with the Golden Flashes getting a set back. Ohio was able to seal the deal in the fourth set, though, as the Bobcats found their way to fifth MAC win on the season.

Graduate Senior middle blocker Elizabeth Hoerlein looks on during an Ohio Volleyball game. [Darayus Sethna | WOUB Public Media]
It’s been easy to look ahead for the Bobcats with lots of key MAC games ahead, including this weekend at Eastern Michigan, who’s tied for fourth in the conference. For Ohio, it’s still about the next game up. “I just think that we take it one game at a time and we don’t look too far ahead because sometimes we get in our heads to look ahead,” Hunt said. “So, just focusing on what’s ahead of us, just the next game.”

A key part in the win and Ohio’s resurgence has been the play of senior Makenna Schafer, who’s been given an increased role due to recent injuries on the team. Schafer tallied a career-high seven kills and has always been ready to step up. “I think my role for the past four years has been always being prepared to step up and make a play when I need to,” Schafer said. “Being thrown into the lineup, trying to do the best I can, focusing on what we need at that moment against whatever team.”

Ohio will be back in action Friday night at Eastern Michigan, with the first set beginning at 6 p.m.