Sports
Ohio Sends Rebels Runnin’ In Three
< < Back toOhio Volleyball battled through two sets and breezed through one on the way to a 3-0 win over UNLV in the Western Kentucky University Invitational Friday evening, 26-24, 25-21, 25-13.
Ohio (6-1) remained in control for much of the first set, holding a steady lead from Karin Bull’s block on the opening point. The Bobcat lead grew to 20-13 before UNLV used an 8-0 run to take a 21-20 lead, forcing Ohio coach Ryan Theis to use his second timeout of the set. Ohio committed three errors and allowed two UNLV service aces during the run.
UNLV (3-4) won the ensuing point to take a 22-20 lead before a kill by Kelly Lamberti gave service back to the Bobcats. Bull and setter Abby Gilleland followed with a block, and Lamberti smashed another kill to give Ohio a 23-22 lead, and the Rebels burned a timeout.
Two points later, UNLV was one point away from winning the set, serving with a 24-23 lead, but a kill by Bull off Gilleland’s assist tied the game. Bull answered with another kill on the next point to give Ohio a 25-24 lead, and Katie Horton finished the game with a kill on the following point.
Bull finished the first set with three kills and three blocks, and Gilleland assisted on 15 of Ohio’s 16 kills through the opening frame.
The two teams played a tight second set through the first half of the game before Ohio took control.
With the score tied at 11, the Bobcats took advantage of two consecutive UNLV attack errors to take a 13-11 lead. The errors started a run where Ohio won nine of 12 points to take a 20-14 lead.
UNLV won four of the next five points to draw within 3, but would never come any closer, as Ohio used a couple kills by Liis Kullerkann to pull away and win the set.
The Bobcats closed out the third set on a 17-4 run for their sixth straight-sets victory of the season.
Horton led the team and set a career-high with 11 kills on a .500 clip, and Gilleland assisted on 38 of Ohio’s 41 kills.
The Rebels struggled to handle the ball throughout the match, registering 21 attack errors and eight service errors as a team.
Ohio will continue WKU Invitational play Saturday with a noon match against tournament host Western Kentucky (4-3). The Hilltoppers, ranked No. 21 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, will be the third ranked opponent Ohio has faced this preseason.