This weekend, Ohio (1-2) travels to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to participate in the Chattanooga Classic. In this tournament, it will play against Cincinnati (1-1), Chattanooga (2-1) and Jacksonville State (1-2). Ohio had a rough patch of games to end the Bobcat Invitational and looks to get back on track with some wins. This is the beginning of Ohio’s road stretch, where it will not have a home game until Oct. 3.
Game 1 info:
Opponent: Cincinnati
Date and Time: Sept. 4, 6 p.m.
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Cincinnati split both of its matches this year, winning one and losing one. Cincinnati played two tough opponents, defeating Wake Forest 3-1 and losing to Michigan 3-1. Cincinnati, like Ohio had in its last game, struggled to close out sets, which is something to watch for when these two compete against each other.
Game 2 info:
Opponent: Chattanooga
Date and Time: Sept. 5, 12 p.m.
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga has looked solid in its last three matches, as it has put up a fight in all three games, including its loss against Wake Forest. Chattanooga is also coming into the tournament with momentum, as it didn’t let UC Riverside win a single set in a dominant 3-0 outing. This is a game that could go both ways.
Game 3 info:
Opponent: Jackson State
Date and Time: Sept. 6, 12 p.m.
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Jackson State is sporting the same record as Ohio, with both of its losses having the same set difference. While this is Ohio’s last game of the tournament, this is only Jackson State’s second, meaning it might be a bit more well-rested than Ohio, which could come into play in the later sets. Even in Jackson State’s lone win, it barely made it out with only a one set difference.
Players to watch:
Ohio’s freshmen Bailey Blair and Mady Long have been a force at the net. In Blair’s first three games, she recorded 26 kills and was responsible for 31 points. Blair is also second on the team for points per set, with an average of 3.10. Long leads the team in points scored with 40.5 and also leads the team in points per set with 4.05. Long also has tallied the most kills on the team with 31. Both of these freshmen have started out their collegiate careers bright and look to continue their amazing play.
