During a weekend full of tricks and treats, the Ohio volleyball team escaped with two wins against Bowling Green and Toledo.
Ohio (21-3 overall, 11-0 Mid-American Conference) remains undefeated in the MAC, but the Bobcats were tricked into losing their first game at home this season - game two of the 30-24, 30-32, 30-25, 30-20 win against Toledo Saturday. Ohio coach Geoff Carlston said he was just happy to get through the weekend with the victories.
The Bobcats withheld an onslaught from Toledo (9-17, 5-8 MAC) in game two when the Rockets hit .341 to Ohio's .159.
They are a young team and gained some confidence (in game two) and played really well against us
Carlston said.
Experience showed, however, with three Bobcats collecting double figures in kills. Middle blocker Laura Hageman posted a game-high 21 kills while middle blocker Julia Winkfield and outside hitter Holly Schetzsle tallied 14 and
13 respectively.
Hageman said the team blocking was a big reason for Ohio's wins in games three and four. The team stands first in the MAC in total blocks per game at 2.98 and posted 18 of them for the match.
The blocking also showed through against the Falcons (11-13, 3-7 MAC) when Ohio got in the net 20 times, including 18 assisted blocks.
But the biggest treat of the weekend came off the bench. Ohio right side hitter Jenna Gaughran and outside Katie Smith put up solid numbers and stepped up when the team needed a jumpstart, Carlston said. Gaughran hit .500 with six kills against Bowling Green, and Smith hit .385 with six kills against Toledo.
Honestly we have to play better than we did tonight Carlston said after the 3-0 win against Bowling Green. We did some good things - Bri (Adamovsky) made some decent choices - and we have to step up. Jenna Gaughran did a nice job coming in as freshman and made a big impact in the match.
Gaughran said she likes providing a spark off the bench and looks to her teammates to give her cues about her role.
I know Laura is so awesome
and I look up to her so I know when they set me the ball
I have to get it down if I want to get set again
Gaughran said.
Ohio's winning steak now stands at 19, the fourth longest streak in MAC history next to Western Michigan's 32-match streak and Ball State and Eastern Michigan's 20-match streak. Marshall is the next team with a chance to stop it when the Thundering Herd visit Athens at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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Laurie Duffy
