Ohio (5-14, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) is trying to extend its winning streak this Thursday and Friday as it takes on Eastern Michigan (10-10, 2-5 MAC) in The Convo. Ohio has been hot recently after starting its season poorly, as they have flipped its once 10-game losing streak into a current three-game losing streak, including the sweep against its rivals Miami this past weekend in the Battle of the Bricks.
Currently, everything is clicking for the Bobcats. This three-game winning streak includes a total match record of 9-1. They have been playing complete games, offensively outscoring their opponents by 62 points during the stretch. While on defense, they have been good too, as they’ve only allowed opposing teams to score 20 points or more in just two sets over the past three games.
Not only has the team been very good recently, but so have some individual players. After Ohio’s 3-0 week, Ohio’s setter Kendall White won the MAC Setter of the Week. She was able to help her team on both sides of the ball as she has a whopping 123 assists and 35 digs, and Ohio will look for her to keep up the strong play this weekend.
Eastern Michigan is on a win streak of its own. It has won its last two games, and over the weekend, it swept Kent State to pick up its first MAC wins of the year after starting 0-5 in the conference. Eastern Michigan was at home for those games, where it has been dominant with a 5-2 record. Unfortunately for Eastern Michigan, it has struggled on the road this year with a 2-5 record, and it now has to travel to play a team that has been hot at home.
Both teams started MAC play very poorly, going a combined 0-9 to start conference play. As they trended similarly early in MAC play, they’re trending similarly again as they now have a combined record of 5-0 in their most recent MAC games.
The player to look out for on Eastern Michigan is junior outside hitter Ava Siefke. Siefke has scooped up a huge 268 kills this season for a whopping 3.57 kills per set. She also has 21 assists, which is one of the best on her team outside of the setters.
She has also been fabulous on defense, as she has racked up 188 digs and 44 blocks, which puts her fourth on her team. She has been very reliable for the Eagles this season on both sides of the ball and is a strong reason they are sitting at .500 right now. The Eagles have seen solid play from their setters to give them solid opportunities, but it has been Siefke who has been finishing it up at the net.
Bobcat players to look out for are reigning MAC Setter of the Week White, who is trying to keep up her dominance. Freshman outside hitter Blaire Bailey has also been a reason for Ohio’s recent success, as she led the team in kills through their current three-game winning streak with 33, followed by junior outside hitter Gentry Brown with 27 kills.
