The Ohio volleyball team opened its Mid-American Conference season with wins against Ball State and Miami this weekend in The Convo and improved to 10-2. On Friday, Ohio defeated Ball State in three games, 30-25, 31-29, 31-29. The next day, the Bobcats topped Miami, 30-15, 30-20, 26-30, 30-22. Coach Geoff Carlston said he was impressed with the team's performance. These wins were huge this weekend
he said. We grew a lot. Ball State tested the Bobcats early and often in the last two games. In the second game, the Cardinals led 24-20 at one point, before the Bobcats finished with an 11-5 run to take the game. Carlston said the team's effort slipped after the first game. Our leaders got a little tentative he said. Ohio found itself behind for most of the third game, too, as the Cardinals pulled away every time the Bobcats came close. After Ball State took a 25-20 lead, Carlston called a time-out. Coach told us to go out and defend our court outside hitter Holly Schetzsle said. Ohio did just that, going on an 11-4 run to win the game and the match. The run was punctuated by strong play from outside hitter Julia Winkfield, who led the team with 16 kills. Outside hitters Stephanie Blackburn and Schetzsle also recorded double digits in kills, with 13 and 10, respectively, while setter Briana Adamovsky had a match-high 52 assists. The Bobcats followed their Friday night win with a strong start against Miami, winning the first game 30-15 after Ohio raced out to a 13-2 lead, and never led by fewer than eight points. After the Bobcats won the second game, though, Miami came back strong. Down 18-14, the RedHawks went on a 9-1 run and won the game 30-26. The RedHawks' dominance was a matter of assertiveness, Carlston said. They played a lot more aggressively in the third game
he said. The fourth game seemed like a repeat of the third, as the teams were locked in a 15-15 tie. However, Ohio's Ashley Elliot recorded three kills as the Bobcats overwhelmed the RedHawks with a 9-2 run, and Elliot sealed the match with another kill as the Bobcats won their 20th straight home match. Elliot led all players with 17 kills, while Winkfield and outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn had 16 and 11 kills, respectively. Adamovsky again led all players with 55 assists. She said that the effort was a reflection of the team as a whole. We rely on every single player offensively
she said. Carlston said the diversity of the team makes them more dangerous than the squad that won the conference championship and tournament last year. We're a better team because everyone has to contribute
he said. We have lots of weapons.
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Mike Stafford
