Coach Deane Webb eclipses the 400-win mark in his coaching career with three wins in Florida.
Coach Deane Webb came to Florida one win shy of 400 for his career.
He left with 402 wins.
The Bobcats went undefeated during the weekend in their one match with Florida Atlantic and two matches with Florida Gulf Coast at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational in Fort Myers, Florida. It was the first time in school history that Ohio had faced either of the two schools.
Ohio's first win — a 3-1 victory over FAU — gave Webb the 400th victory of his career.
“It’s a little like birthdays,” Webb said. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful ... I remember as a young coach, getting to 100 (wins), and being really amped up about it. I was probably 27 years old. It was a really exciting thing. This, it’s more of an appreciation that I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
The win over Florida Atlantic was highlighted by dominance at the net —rather, dominance above the net. Ohio totaled 19 blocks, including two blocks and six assisted blocks from Florida-native and senior outside hitter Shelby Walker.
After the win over Florida Atlantic, the next 24 hours saw two 3-1 wins over hosts Florida Gulf Coast.
The weekend was maybe the best statistical three-game stretch in junior outside hitter Mallory Salis' career. Salis had 36 kills in three games, including a career-high 22 in Ohio’s first meeting with Florida Gulf Coast.
“My goal was to go out there and enjoy the opportunity I was given, ”Salis said. “It’s a great feeling knowing that my team has confidence in me. All around we put up a fight against a team that wasn’t going to hand it to us. We were in system and that’s what motivated me to be up on every ball that I could. We battled hard and I’m proud of the adversity our team showed tonight.”
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Salis is a regular starter in the lineup, but rarely compiles the stats that sophomore outside hitter Jaime Kosiorek usually does.
Kosiorek did have an impressive weekend in her own regard though, as she had a double-double in the first meeting with Florida Atlantic and nearly earned a second one, recording 10 kills and six digs in Ohio's first meeting with Florida Gulf Coast.
Ohio has now officially ended its non-conference schedule, as it’ll begin its Mid-American Conference schedule at The Convo next weekend, hosting Miami and Bowling Green.
"This weekend was a good tune up for beginning MAC play next week," Webb said. "FAU and FGCU are different style teams from each other, and they both pushed us."
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