Sports
Ohio Volleyball beats Western Michigan, clinches No. 3 seed in MAC Tournament
By: Austin Yau
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — After an 11-game losing streak that bled into MAC play, it looked like Ohio Volleyball’s hopes for MAC tournament play were dashed. The Bobcats disagreed with that sentiment though, winning games to put themselves not only into MAC tournament eligibility, but also with a chance to earn a bye.
Interim head coach Kenzie Brinkman said after that rough start, the players could have “came into practice and just rolled over and just been upset and been selfish.
“But they worked their butts off each and every day for each other, for me because they knew that they could do better,” Brinkman said.
The Bobcats lost out on the chance for a bye by losing the first game of their two-game homestretch against Western Michigan.
The second game was senior night for Bobcats where they recognized transfer Setter Kendall White and four-year Middle Blocker Leah Rogers as well as student manager Anna Kharchynska.
After an eight point loss in the first set, the Bobcats (14-16, 12-6 MAC) would win the next three sets to beat the Broncos (16-15, 13-5 MAC) to clinch the three seed in the MAC tournament.
In the first set the teams would start out evenly matched, trading points. However, the Bobcats allowed Western Michigan to score six points while scoring none, as the Broncos took a 13-6 lead. A three point run by the Broncos would double up Ohio’s score for an 18-9 lead.
Ohio would attempt to get its way back into the match but the Broncos held strong and would win the set 25-17 on a Molly Brown kill.
The Broncos would start strong in the third game jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Responding with three unanswered points of their own, the Bobcats would tie the set, and from then it was back-and-forth.
The Bobcats would then score four straight and get a 12-10 lead. Western responded with a three point run to get a 13-12 advantage, and it was back-and-forth again.
Ohio would pull out the victory 25-23 on a Bailey Blair kill. The set would continue its back-and-forth trend to start the third set.
A five-point run would break the gridlock as the Bobcats seized control of the game 19-12.
Western Michigan tried to fight its way back into the game, but Ohio proved to be the stronger team winning 25-20 with Bailey Blair clinching the set again.
Ohio came out of the gates hot in the fourth set taking the lead 11-3, but the Broncos proved why they have the No. 2 seed, battling back with two 3-0 runs and a 4-0 run to bring the game within one point at 15-16.
Mia Jurkovic would tie the game at 18 with a kill for the Broncos. It was initially ruled out in Ohio’s favour but a successful touch challenge for Western tied the game.
The two would trade blows from that point until Western would score four straight to take a 22-19 lead capped off by a Maddie Kmetz ace. Ohio wouldn’t go down easily, scoring three unanswered to tie the match at 24.
Torre Kildow would nail in a kill to take a one point lead. Western Michigan would attempt a challenge but it was unsuccessful.
The Broncos would tie up the game at 25 after a Mary Clare Brusek kill. Kildow would come in clutch again getting Ohio the lead 26-25. And Ohio would ice the match and the game 27-25 with a laser from Bailey Blair.
Even though it was senior night Ohio’s offense would be led by two freshmen.
Blair led the team in kills with 16 and got two blocks. Mady Long would be second in kills with 13 on a team-high .546 kill percentage and chipped in two more points with two service aces.
In a close game like this defense is crucial. Long was second in digs on the team and was diving after balls to extend rallies all night. Emily Waddell led the team in blocks with seven.
Brinkman gave credit to her players for the gritty win.
“I just have so many people I can put in the game that are going to be ready and able to go,” she said.
With Toledo getting swept by Akron, the Bobcats officially clinched the No. 3 seed in the MAC tournament in Bowling Green on Nov. 21-23
Based on tomorrow’s results, they will take on the Bowling Green Falcons or the Buffalo Bulls at 7 p.m. on the Nov. 21 for the three vs six seed matchup.