Despite having chances to grab momentum in both matches this weekend, the Bobcats could not capitalize.
They faced two Big Ten Conference teams this weekend in West Lafayette, Ind., and came up empty handed. Three-game defeats to Purdue and 14th-ranked Illinois sent Ohio its first winless weekend of the season.
Coach Ryan Theis knew his team had to play well in order to beat the Boilermakers or Illini.
Simple mistakes and miscommunication have been a problem for Ohio in the early going, and similar issues plagued the team this weekend.
The Bobcats (8-4) had multiple opportunities to win both of the first sets but were their own worst enemy. After a three-point rally late in the first frame against Purdue, two straight errors gave the Boilermakers the set.
It was a little bit of teamwork (problems)
Theis said. Several things went wrong in several different situations. We had opportunities but were unable to capitalize.
We aren't playing our best volleyball right now. Those were two opponents that can put a lot of pressure on you.
Two weeks ago they faced their second Big Ten opponent of the season (Indiana) at home and fell in a dramatic five-set finish.
At the InnTowner Invitational in late August
the Bobcats capped off a flawless weekend with a 3-1 victory over Wisconsin.
At the Purdue Active Ankle Challenge
nothing seemed to go well for the Bobcats after dropping two hard-fought opening frames.
Four Boilermakers (Carrie Gurnell
Kristen Arthurs
Ariel Turner and Tiffany Fisher) tallied at least 10 kills and Purdue hit .239 as a team. The Bobcats hit .132.
All three sets were close (25-27
23-25
22-25) but execution became a problem.
I think against Purdue, our game plan was good, Theis said. They were able to stop our left sides better than we could stop theirs. We didn't put ourselves in position to win a couple of key points. We were right there with them, and couldn't put them away.
The next match against Illinois produced another first-set disappointment.
Ohio was at set point
25-24
when an attack error gave the ball back to Illinois and tied the set.
An ace from Laura DeBruler and a rip from Kylie McCulley allowed the Illini to take the opening frame
