Ohio wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in the Charlotte Invitational, where the team looked to get things back on track after a tough recent stretch of games.
The Bobcats losing streak continued as they lose all three games this weekend in North Carolina vs Maryland Eastern Shore (3-8), Charlotte (8-3) and Furman (9-3), extending their losing streak to seven and falling to 2-10.
Maryland Eastern Shore:
Ohio started its weekend in North Carolina on Friday against Maryland Eastern Shore. The Bobcats were trying to jump back after a tough weekend in Dayton, where they lost 3-0, getting swept all three times.
Both teams entered the matchup trying to end an unwanted losing streak. The first set was fought to the wire as Ohio took it 25-23, led by the likes of freshman outside hitter Bailey Blair and junior middle blocker/opposite hitter Olivia Gardner, each with four kills in the first set.
Through the first three sets, Ohio had a 2-1 lead and looked to break its four-game losing streak. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Maryland Eastern Shore, led by senior outside hitter Nkemjika Ikemefuna with 13 kills and senior Valeria Matias with 26 digs, rallied and took the last two sets. It earned the comeback win against Ohio, winning 3-2, snapping its losing streak and bringing Ohio’s to five.
Charlotte:
Later that Friday, Ohio took on Charlotte, who looked to extend a seven-game winning streak. The confident 49ers came in ready to steamroll through another team to keep their dominant season going, and that is exactly what they did.
The 49ers, led by Kristen Birmingham with 15 kills, Lauren Nixon with 24 assists and Jaylen Jordan with 14 digs, swept the Bobcats easily 3-0. Ohio kept it close in the final set with a combined 11 kills from freshman outside hitter Bailey Blair, junior middle blocker Olivia Gardner and sophomore outside hitter Sierra Evans, though Ohio lost set three 26-24, ending the game with a 3-0 loss, and extending their losing streak to six straight.
Furman:
Ohio faced Furman on Saturday, trying to end its losing streak of six and finish its weekend in North Carolina on a high note. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the Paladins entered this matchup 7-3 and 4-1 in their last five games.
Ohio came striking as they won a back-and-forth first set led by junior opposite hitter Torre Kildow with a whopping seven kills. Furman took set two and Ohio set three, both pretty handily. Ohio had another 2-1 lead just like the day before against Maryland Eastern Shore. Unfortunately, similar to the other game, Ohio lost the final two sets, allowing another 2-1 comeback and falling to a sad 10-2 on the season and making their losing streak seven straight.
Blair had an outstanding weekend with a total of 53 kills, 10 aces, 7 blocks and 21 digs. Another great Ohio performance from the weekend is sophomore setter Bryn Janke with a whopping 100 assists.
Ohio tries to end its slide this Thursday as it travels to Bowling Green to take on the 4-5 Falcons.
