Another year, another Mid-American Conference title.
No. 16 Ohio repeated as MAC Tournament champions Saturday, defeating Miami 3-2 in overtime. The Bobcats (17-4) advanced to a play-in game for the NCAA Championships to be played at 1 p.m. tomorrow against American at Peggy Pruitt Field.
Rachelle Coetzee took a tapped pass from Torrie Albini and fired the ball to the back of the cage in the third minute of overtime to secure the win. After a tough, emotional game where the Bobcats didn't always look their best, Coetzee had trouble putting the moment into words.
It was unbelievable. I didn't even realize
she said. It's hard for it to sink in. It's just such an awesome moment. I don't know what to say.
Goalkeeper Jessie Martin, named MAC Defensive Player of the Year last week, said the conference title meant more than any personal achievement ever could.
It means everything she said. The personal awards are an honor to receive but we work for a championship. Looking back in 10 years
I'm not going to say
'I was the player of the year;' I'm going to say
'we won that championship back-to-back.'
The team improved a lot from last year, and that helped propel it toward a second championship, Coetzee said.
I thought this team was much better
she said. I think we can take it forward into the NCAA playoffs.
I just want to keep up with (the Ohio) volleyball (team)
coach Neil Macmillan added about the back-to-back championships. We didn't play the best game today
but overall as a season
I thought we did a really good job.Some more improvement might be needed before tomorrow's game because this was far from the best game the Bobcats played during their run to the title.
Ohio gave up two early goals in the first half before scores by Nina Bruno and Albini evened the match at 2-2 before halftime. Miami controlled the ball for most of the second half, but the Bobcat defense held to send the game to the extra period.
While he wasn't pleased with his team's play during the game, it was hard to deny the emotion of the moment afterwards, Macmillan said.
I knew when we got a chance to go to overtime
I'd take my players out there over anyone
