Having played all but one Mid-American Conference opponent this season, Ohio sits atop the conference standings and is in the midst of a season-long winning streak.
Ohio (14-8, 9-1 MAC) has won nine consecutive matches since losing its conference opener to Bowling Green, which is tied with the Bobcats for first place in the MAC East. The two schools will play each other Saturday at The Convo in a match that will reflect what has changed in the 10 matches since their initial meeting.
“I’ve always said you can take a good look at a team when you’re 10 games in, and we’ll have a pretty good look at our opponents,” Ohio coach Ryan Theis said. “You can really look and evaluate what teams are good at and what they’re bad at, to this point.”
Not only do the Bobcats hold a share of best records in the MAC, Ohio also ranks in the top two in every team statistical category in conference play, except service aces, in which they rank fifth.
Ohio leads all conference opponents through the first 10 matches in hitting percentage, kills and blocks, while ranking second in opponent hitting percentage, assists and digs.
Despite the Bobcats’ nine-match winning streak — the team’s longest since 2009, when they won nine straight games at two different points in the year — Ohio has not performed at its top level, Theis said. However, the Bobcats have been able to consistently rally and rely on at least one player to win in each set.
Having a player step up when needed has been seen in each match, including each match this past weekend.
In the second set against Northern Illinois on Friday, sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Bilger rallied the Bobcats to a victory with three kills late in the game, two of which earned Ohio’s last pair of points.
Sophomore middle blocker Serena Warner scored four-and -a-half of the Bobcats’ final six points in Ohio’s sweep of Western Michigan the following day.
“I think our offense has been getting better all season and our defense is pretty good,” Theis said. “If we can serve well, block well and get an offense going, we can be pretty good.”
Because of players excelling at various aspects in each match, Ohio has not achieved individual accolades as impressive as team accolades, but several are still among the best in the MAC.
In conference play, Warner ranks second in blocks and aces, while sophomore outside hitter Kelly Lamberti holds the same position in average kills per set.
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