Sports
Ohio Comes Up Short in Five Sets
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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Ohio Volleyball played its most evenly matched match of the year Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats lost to UNC in 5 sets: 25-17, 16-25, 20-25, 25-14, 10-15.
"Weird match. None of the games were close. That doesn't happen in five set games very often," Said Coach Ryan Theis. "I don't know if it was strictly a momentum thing for both teams once they got rolling and confident."
The Bobcats definately had all the momentum they could have coming into the game, having won each of the last 12 sets (4 games). They continued that streak into this match, winning the first set. But their week-long, 5 match streak would come to and end in the next set, losing 25-16 to the Tar Heels.
In the third set, the Bobcats opened up and early 8-3 lead. UNC fought back to take the lead 11-10. Ohio tied the game at 13 and then the Tar Heels pulled away to win 25-20. UNC would take a two-sets-to-one lead.
The Bobcats would not die, however jumping out to a 9-5 lead in the fourth set. The Tar Heels were never able to make up the difference as Ohio kept pouring on the points. The Bobcats would eventually push their lead to 11, winning by that margin, 25-14.
The fifth set was controlled by the Tar Heels, who led 6-3 early. The 'Cats would make it 6-5 before UNC pulled away to win the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2.
Kelly Lamberti had a stellar game for the 'Cats, totalling a season high 21 kills and 19 digs. Abby Gilleland had 37 assists and libero Merideth Ashy tallied 17 digs.
"They are a good team. It was a good environment to play in. It's a tough road match," said Theis. "I want to see the character of our team. How do we bounce back and how do we play tomorrow"
The Bobcats will take on the Wolfpack of NC State on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. They will look to get back on a winning track before starting conference play in Bowling Green on Friday.