Jack Muldowney
Ohio capped off the Bobcat Invitational, its first home stand of the season, with its third win of the event Saturday against Mercyhurst University to finish the weekend 3-0.
Ohio turned its three-game losing streak into a three-game winning streak and will now enter conference play with a strong 7-4 record. The Bobcats’ dominant performance over the weekend was in large part due to the superb playmaking skills of their setters, freshman Rowan Kelly and sophomore Lillie Meinhart.
Kelly and Meinhart have been incredible all season long, and kept up that level of play in the Bobcat Invitational. They each recorded more than 15 assists in all three matches over the weekend, and their ability to set the table for Ohio’s powerful hitters is often a key theme in Bobcat wins.
Without capable setters, Ohio would be unable to be as effective as the Bobcats have been recording kills all season long. Both of these two finished the weekend against Mercyhurst stronger than ever, both having arguably their best performances of the weekend to propel the Bobcats toward finishing the weekend 3-0.
Kelly racked up 23 assists against the Lakers while Meinhart added 18, combining for 41 of the Bobcats’ 48 total assists. That translated into an impressive 54 kills from Ohio’s hitters, proving the value of having two interchangeable, highly skilled setters.
“They both have different leadership styles, and they’re both really good at different things, and I think that’s what makes us successful,” Head Coach Kenzie Brinkman said when asked about the luxury of being able to rotate Kelly and Meinhart and be successful regardless of which one is on the court.
Kelly has racked up 241 assists on the season. Her playmaking has undoubtedly been a driving force toward Ohio’s success this season, and her ability to produce at such a high level as a freshman is very advantageous for the Bobcats.
Her 6-foot-2-inch stature as a setter provides unique benefits for Ohio, as she is more than capable of also rising above the net for kills when needed. She has recorded 26 kills so far this season alongside her lofty assist numbers, making her an all-around threat.
Meinhart, on the other hand, adds a different wrinkle into Ohio’s attack. Setting is her top skill, as she has recorded 103 assists thus far, but her 5-foot-9-inch frame limits her ability as a hitter, an area in which Kelly makes up for that limitation. Meinhart shines in the back row, though, which Brinkman noted as a key advantage when comparing the skill sets of her two setters.
“I need a setter who can play the back row, and I need a setter who can play the front row,” Brinkman said. “If that’s the same setter, great, but we’re very lucky to have two different ones who give us a mix of both,”
Both Kelly and Meinhart should continue to be major contributors all season long, and they are both hitting their strides at the perfect time with conference play up next.
@JackMuldowney1
