Pregame
Ohio entered Friday after a weekend in which it defeated a red-hot Toledo team 3-1, before losing to Mid-American Conference leader Ball State in five sets. Junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti was injured during the third set in the loss against Ball State, and she was not completely ruled out for Friday's match against Northern Illinois.
The Bobcats have not won both matches on this road trip to Northern Illinois and Western Michigan under coach Ryan Theis, they make the trip every other season.
Northern Illinois (12-10, 4-4 MAC) knocked Ohio out of the MAC Tournament last season, and this year the Huskies are led by two preseason all-MAC selections, in junior outside hitter Mackenzie Roddy and senior middle blocker Sarah Angelos. Roddy is averaging 3.33 kills per set this season, which is seventh-best in the MAC.
First Set
The Bobcats got off to a 3-1 lead, including two kills by Katie Horton. Then after a few more smaller leads by Ohio, Northern Illinois was able to come back to tie the set at 7.
The teams exchanged points, but then two straight points by the Huskies gave it its first lead of the match, at 10-8. The Bobcats then came back with two points of their own to tie the set at 10.
The teams then exchanged points until the score was tied at 14, but then Northern Illinois scored two straight points, and Ohio took a timeout. The Huskies then led 16-14.
The teams went back and forth until the Northern Illinois lead was just 21-19, and then Ohio scored two straight points, including a kill by Liis Kullerkann, to tie the set at 21. Northern Illinois then scored two straight points, which forced Ohio to take a timeout. The Huskies then led 23-21.
The teams each scored once after the timeout, and the Northern Illinois called a timeout, as they were on set point. After the timeout Ohio made an error, and the Bobcats dropped the first set. Katie Horton led the Bobcats with five kills in the opening set.
Final: Ohio 22, Northern Illinois 25
Second Set: Ohio 0, Northern Illinois 1
Northern Illinois started the set by getting off to leads of 4-1 and 5-2, but then Ohio came back to tie the set at 5, 6 and 7.
A kill by Mallory Salis and a combined block by Abby Gilleland and Karin Bull helped the Bobcats get a lead of 9-7, but then the Huskies came back to tie the set at 10.
A 5-0 run by the Bobcats, including a kill each by Lamberti and Gilleland, gave them a 14-10 lead. Northern Illinois then called a timeout.
The teams exchanged points, and then another kill by Lamberti extended Ohio's lead to five. Northern Illinois then took a timeout, as it trailed 18-13.
After the timeout the teams went back and forth, but then a 5-1 run by Northern Illinois late in the set cut Ohio's lead to just three. The Bobcats took a timeout, as they led 23-20.
The Bobcats scored two of the next three points after the timeout, and took the set by five. They led by as much as seven points during the set.
Final: Ohio 25, Northern Illinois 20
Third Set: Ohio 1, Northern Illinois 1
The Bobcats were able to get off to a 3-1 lead off a kill and block by Alexis Pinson. Then the Huskies came back to tie the match at 3, and take the lead. Northern Illinois led 5-4.
Ohio then scored four straight points, including an ace by Brooke Coleman. The Bobcats then kept rolling with two straight kills by Gilleland, and they increased their run to 8-2. Northern Illinois then took a timeout, as Ohio led 11-6.
Right after the timeout, Northern Illinois killed the balls three straight times, and cut the Ohio lead to just two. Ohio then led 11-9.
The teams went back and forth, but then two straight points by Ohio, including a Coleman ace, forced Northern Illinois to take a timeout. Ohio then led 18-13.
The teams exchanged points, and Ohio extended its lead to six. Then two straight points by Northern Illinois forced the Bobcats to take a timeout. Ohio led 23-19.
After the timeout Northern Illinois started to come back with three straight points, but a combined block by Pinson and Kullerkann secured the set win for Ohio. After three sets of play, Horton had 10 kills for the Bobcats.
Final: Ohio 25, Northern Illinois 22
Fourth Set: Ohio 2, Northern Illinois 1
Ohio got off to a 5-2 lead early in the set, but then Northen Illinois came back with three points of its own, to tie the set at 5.
The teams each scored three points, and then the Bobcats went on a 6-1 run, including two kills each by Lamberti and Salis. This forced Northern Illinois to take a timeout. Ohio then led 14-9.
Northern Illinois came back with a 4-1 run to cut into Ohio's lead, but then two kills each by Pinson and Horton put the Bobcats back up by four. Ohio then led 18-14.
A quick 5-1 run by Northern Illinois cut Ohio's lead to just one, and the Bobcats took a timeout, leading 19-18.
The teams exchanged points, and then after a Northern Illinois timeout Ohio killed the ball three more times and took the match win a four point win in the fourth set.
Final: Ohio 25, Northern Illinois 21
Final: Ohio 3, Northern Illinois 1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21)
Ohio
Kelly Lamberti - 15 digs, 11 kills, 3 assists
Abby Gilleland - 39 assists, 8 digs, 7 kills, 1 ace, 1 block
Katie Horton - 13 kills, 3 digs, 1.5 blocks, 1 assist
Meredith Ashy - 19 digs
Alexis Pinson - 4.5 blocks, 4 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace
Northern Illinois
Alexis Gonzalez - 36 assists, 15 digs, 3 kills
Mackenzie Roddy - 13 digs, 11 kills, 1 ace, 1.5 blocks, 1 assist
Justine Schepler - 18 digs, 1 kill
Reactions
"This was a gutty performance, I thought kids took turns stepping up, and I was very happy to see us show some toughness on the road." -- Coach Ryan Theis on the collective effort after being down 1-0 on the road
"The back row played really great tonight, we were worried about Lamberti and she played awesome tonight." -- Freshman outside hitter Katie Horton on the defensive play, as well as Kelly Lamberti's play after being injured last weekend
Up Next
Ohio (17-4, 7-2 MAC) looks to finish this road trip with two wins for the first time under Theis as the Bobcats will face Western Michigan on Saturday.
Western Michigan (13-9, 6-3 MAC) will be coming off three straight wins before Saturday, as the Broncos defeated Akron and Buffalo on the road last weekend, and swept Kent State at home on Friday.
The Broncos are led by sophomore middle blocker Stepenee Yancy, who was named the 2012 MAC Freshman of the Year last season. Western Michigan junior setter Lexie Pawlik leads the conference with 11.61 assists per set in MAC play.
Western Michigan has dropped just two conference matches at home since 2008.
