Sports
Ohio Volleyball wins 9th straight against Miami improving to 3-4 in MAC play
By: Austin Yau
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio and MIiami are bitter rivals, but Saturday’s game in the Convocation Center had the two teams united around an honorable cause. The Bobcats donned their pink jerseys and Miami would incorporate pink into parts of their uniform. This was for the “Dig Pink” game which recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness month.
In a fierce second day to the Battle of the Bricks rivalry, Ohio did what every Ohio team wants to do; beat Miami. The Bobcats (5-14, 3-4 MAC) beat the RedHawks (9-10, 3-4 MAC) 3-1 extending their win streak to three.
“Everything’s starting to connect and we’re starting to trust each other, especially the defense,” senior setter Kendall White reflected on what is helping Ohio during this streak
Miami would start off strong in the first set getting out to a 5-3 lead. However, the Bobcats would score four straight to steal the lead back to make it a 7-5 advantage. From that point on the Bobcats would dominate, going on separate 4-1 and 5-0 runs. The set finished with the Bobcats getting another four unanswered points with Torre Kildow getting the game-winning kill.
The RedHawks would put up a much stronger fight in the second set. The teams traded two points the whole set including the RedHawks getting two points while Ohio held game point 24-22 to tie it at 24. That wouldn’t be the only comeback in the game for the RedHawks as they went a 4-1 scoring stretch to make it 22-22.
That got Miami fired up though and they were able to get two points straight to take the set 27-25. Molly Creech and Gentry Warrick would combine for a block to win the game.
The reviews would continue into the third set as on the first point for Ohio, a Gentry Brown kill that was blocked out of bounds by Miami, te RedHawks would challenge the out of bounds call. The out of bounds call was called in bounds to give Miami the point.
Despite this setback, the Bobcats would go on a 6-1 run to take an 8-4 lead. Miami would get close making it 12-15. But there would be another long review on an attack error by Miami’s Molly Creech that ended up in a point for Ohio. That would greatly frustrate Miami head coach Dan Gwitt, who had already received a yellow card, which was punished by him receiving a red card which gave another point to Ohio.
“We just stayed on our side and controlled what we could control and the results showed,” Brinkman said.
Ohio finished the set out strong, scoring six and holding Miami to two with Bailey Blair getting three kills and contributing on the game-clinching block with Kendall White for a 25-17 win.
The Bobcats started the fourth set racking up nine points and only allowing the RedHawks to get two. After this the set would be back-and-forth. The challenges kpet coming as they were given on a Gentry Brown and Sierra Evans kill.
But that initial run would be the deciding factor for the Bobcats as they won the set 25-17.
Ohio’s offense would be led by Gentry Brown who had a team-high 15 kills and scored another four points with blocks. Emily Waddell and Sierra Evans would share the team high in blocks, both getting six. Waddell would also lead the team with a .471 kill percentage.
After an 11-game losing streak the Bobcats have turned a corner, now getting three straight wins, all in conference. They’ll try to stay hot against Eastern Michigan on Thursday (6 p.m.) and Friday (3 p.m.) in the Convocation Center for Alumni Weekend.