With her team's lead beginning to slip in the third game of her final home Mid-American Conference match, Stephanie Blackburn decided to deliver the knockout punch for the Bobcats.
After Central Michigan narrowed a once-eight-point margin to 25-20, Blackburn put her team over the top, notching three kills in the final five points to win the MAC finale for Ohio (23-4, 15-1 MAC).
I think (coach) Geoff (Carlston) was saying to get our team back together and get our energy up
Blackburn said. I think that was in the back of my mind trying to bring up our play and play well for the fans.
Carlston said Blackburn has been the core of the team all season.
She has been the heart and soul of the team for so long he said. Her intensity and her focus and her drive to compete are unlike anyone I have ever coached.
Blackburn finished with nine kills, 16 digs and two service aces to lead the Bobcats to their 13th consecutive win. Fellow senior and middle blocker Melissa Griffin led the team with 14 kills and added two blocks.
Griffin said that seeing all of the fans support her and her teammates on Senior Night caused her to get a little teary-eyed.
Obviously it was meaningful because it was our last MAC game at home
she said. The support that we got was amazing. That was a good feeling and why I got emotional
seeing the fans and taking in the experience.
Libero Janice Matacic also started the final conference home match of her career, posting 13 digs. Although Ohio had already clinched its fifth consecutive conference title, Matacic said it was important for the team to finish MAC play on a high note.
We wanted to win all of our MAC games and it meant a lot to us because you don't want to let down your home crowd on Senior Night
she said. We were going to bring everything we got.
The fifth-year senior made a number of diving digs against the Chippewas and added that her teammates gave her energy to make those types of plays.
Senior Night is always a different feeling
she said. When your teammates get excited about little things
you just really get into it.
After the 'Cats handled the Chippewas (21-9, 10-6 MAC) in the first two games, Carlston appeared more animated throughout the third game, encouraging his team not to let up despite the comfortable two-game margin.
I really felt like our team felt like they were going to win
he said. It's not good because sometimes you are going to wake a sleeping giant.
We had a great crowd here. We did not want to sit and coast and ho-hum it through.
Having clinched the regular-season title
the Bobcats will travel to Toledo
looking to become the first-ever team to win a fifth straight MAC Tournament championship. Ohio will receive a first-round bye and play the winner of the Ball State-Northern Illinois matchup.
We are hitting a little bit of a stride now in terms of getting consistent, Carlston said. We're feeling pretty good about things and we know we have a lot of work ahead of us.
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22509,2007-11-13 00:00:00,Volleyball: Ohio sends seniors out with regular-season title,",With her team's lead beginning to slip in the third game of her final home Mid-American Conference match
