On Sept. 28, 2002, I was enjoying a weekend during my junior year as a student at Poland Seminary High School and putting my brand-new driver's license to good use. At Peden Stadium, Ohio defeated Buffalo 34-32 on a last-second field goal for the first home win of the Brian Knorr era. In Ames, Iowa, Frank Solich's Nebraska Cornhuskers lost to the Iowa State Cyclones, 36-14.
Amidst all this action on a typical college football Saturday, the Ohio women's volleyball team was defeated in four games by eventual Mid-American Conference champion Ball State.
Little did anyone in the Convocation Center that night know that it would be the last time they would see the Bobcats lose at home for now three years - and counting. Today marks the third anniversary of the Bobcats' last home loss. Their 31-match home winning streak is the longest current streak in the nation. The team has won 93-of-105 games during the run, an unimaginable feat of domination.
To put things in perspective, the longest home winning streak either basketball team has managed over the same three-year period is six games. The football team is 9-8 at Peden Stadium over the span, including the aforementioned victory over Buffalo.
Coach Geoff Carlston was entering what would be his final season as the head coach at Concordia - a Division II school in Minnesota.
Fifth-year senior and middle blocker Julia Winkfield has been a part of every game throughout the streak and points to the run as a great time to be involved in Ohio volleyball.
It's really awesome
Winkfield said about the feat itself. It's really an honor to be on the team - even if we didn't have the streak it's exciting to be a part of the program.
The Bobcats have played their fair share of good games over the stretch, including win number two, which came on Oct. 5, 2002, when they rallied from facing match point to knock off Eastern Michigan, the program's first-ever MAC tournament win on Nov. 26, 2002 against Kent State and this year's three-match sweep at the AmeriHost Inn & Suites Invitational.
Every game at home is exciting - it's always great to play at home Winkfield added.
Four out of five ain't bad
Middle blocker Melissa Griffin won her second career MAC East Division Volleyball Player of the Week Award on Monday after leading the Bobcats to convincing wins over Akron and Buffalo last week.
She averaged 17.5 points, five kills, .83 assists, .5 blocks, and .33 aces per game, while committing only four hitting errors.
Griffin is the fourth different Ohio player to receive the Player of the Week Award in the first five weeks of the season, joining Savanah Parra, Stephanie Blackburn, and Julia Winkfield.
- Jason Fazzone
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Jason Fazzone
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From left to right, Ohio's Julia Winkfield, Savannah Parra, and Stephanie Blackburn attempt to block a kill against Buffalo's Lauren Burd, second from left, Saturday night September 24, 2005. The volleyball team extended their home winning streak to 31 af
