Pregame
The Bobcats (6-1) entered the match after defeating UNLV in straight sets in the opener of the WKU Invitational. Freshman outside hitter Katie Horton logged a career-high 11 kills in the victory.
No. 21 Western Kentucky entered Saturday after beating Virginia 3-1 in its opener of the tournament, WKU senior setter Melanie Stutsman started the home tournament with 44 assists against the Cavaliers on Friday
Stutsman received American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honors after her performances last season.
The Bobcats and Hilltoppers have split their four previous meetings, the most recent match was won by Western Kentucky by a score of 3-1 in 2011.
First Set
Western Kentucky took an early 4-1 lead, but two straight kills by Abby Gilleland brought Ohio back within one. Western Kentucky then led 4-3.
The Hilltoppers got back out to a three point lead, but then two kills each by Gilleland and Liis Kullerkann helped Ohio tie the game at 11.
The teams exchanged four points each to tie the score at 15, and then two blocks in a row helped the Bobcats take a two point lead. Ohio then led 17-15.
Western Kentucky tied it at 17 after two straight points, and then four points by each team tied the game back up at 21.
Ohio finished the set on a 4-0 run, which was capped off by an ace from Mallory Salis. Ohio started the match with a four point victory in the first set. Gilleland led the Bobcats with nine assists and six kills in the opening set.
Final: Ohio 25, Western Kentucky 21
Second Set: Ohio 1, Western Kentucky 0
The set was played back and forth for a while, and Ohio couldn't get past the one or two point lead until a kill by Salis put the Bobcats up by four. Ohio then led 13-9.
Another kill by Salis, followed by a kill by Katie Horton put Ohio up by five. Ohio led 15-10.
Ohio fluctuated around the four point lead, until two straight blocks by the Bobcats put them up by six. Ohio led 19-13.
Western Kentucky came back with a 9-4 run, and the Bobcats were then only up by one as they took a timeout to collect themselves. Ohio led 23-22.
Alexis Pinson and Karin Bull both killed the ball once in the last three plays, and Ohio escaped the second set with a win. Kelly Lamberti had six kills in the set.
Final: Ohio 25, Western Kentucky 23
Third Set: Ohio 2, Western Kentucky 0
Western Kentucky started the set with a 4-1 lead, with the help of two service errors by Ohio.
The Bobcats soon cut the lead to one, with the aid of two kills each from Kullerkann and Lamberti. Western Kentucky led 9-8.
Two attack errors and one service error from the Hilltoppers helped the Bobcats climb back into the game. A kill by Lamberti tied the set at 18.
The two teams exchanged two points each, and then a kill and an ace from Lamberti gave Ohio the lead. Ohio then took a timeout as they led 21-20.
Two kills by Horton and a block by Pinson and Horton helped the Bobcats take the third set and win the match in straight sets. Lamberti led Ohio again in the last set with five kills.
Final: Ohio 25, Western Kentucky 23
Final: Ohio 3, Western Kentucky 0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-23)
Ohio
Kelly Lamberti - 13 kills, 10 digs, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 ace
Abby Gilleland - 38 assists, 7 kills, 6 digs, 1 block
Katie Horton - 10 kills, 3 digs
Meredith Ashy - 16 digs, 3 assists, 1 ace
Alexis Pinson - 5 kills, 3.5 blocks
Western Kentucky
Melanie Stutsman - 39 assists, 7 digs, 1 kill, 1 ace
Ashley Potts - 24 digs
Noelle Langenkamp - 12 kills, 4 digs, 1 block
Up Next
Ohio (7-1) will be back on the court at 7 p.m. as they face Virginia in its last match of the WKU Invitational.
The Bobcats are 0-2 all-time against Virginia, the last time they matched up was in the 2011 Baymont Inviational finale, where Ohio lost in four sets.
Virginia (4-3) dropped their first match in the tournament as they lost to No. 21 Western Kentucky in four sets on Friday.
