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Ohio University’s Mallory Salis, 6, and Katie Nelson, 2, attempt to block the volleyball sent by Miami on Friday, November 4, 2016. (Robert McGraw/WOUB)

Ohio’s Season Ends with Loss to NIU

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Ohio did not save its best for last and because of that their season is over.

For the first time since the game against Villanova back on opening weekend in September, the Ohio Bobcats hit below .100 for a match. They hit just .092.

The great careers of Mallory Salis and Brooke Coleman have come to an end after a straight set loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament (25-21, 25-16, 25-19).

The Huskies, led by a balanced attack of six players with four kills or more, had Ohio out of system all night, which led to 26 attack errors. The Huskies continued their dominant play at the net out blocking Ohio, 13-4.

Ohio started the match down 10-6 but went on an 8-4 run to tie the match at 14. A missed serve by Erica Walker gave NIU the lead. A Salis kill gave Ohio a 17-16 lead. NIU scored the next three points to take a 19-17 lead, and they did not look back. After a time out by Ohio, the Huskies went on a 4-1 run to take a 23-18 lead. Three straight points by Ohio cut it to two points but that is the closest Ohio got.

The second set was all Huskies. Ohio led 1-0 but never led after that. NIU scored 10 of the next 11 points and led 11-3. Ohio cut the deficit to four (12-8) but never closer.

The third set was a lot like the second one. Ohio led 1-0 but never after. At one point NIU led 19-8. Ohio managed to make it interesting thanks to an 11-2 run, capped off by an ace by Katelyn Burke to make it 21-19. But Burke missed the next serve and NIU scored the next three points to win the match.

In her last game, Salis had 10 kills, six digs and one block. To end her career, Coleman had five digs and one assist. Lake led all players with 12 kills and Jaime Kosiorek had 10. Mary Grace Kelly had 11 kills for Northern Illinois.

While Ohio’s season is over, Northern Illinois will take on the Miami Redhawks on Sunday in the championship game with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. That game will start at 5:00p.m.