Pregame
Ohio (15-3, 5-1 MAC) came into Friday after dropping its first conference match of the season in Kent last Thursday, but the squad bounced back on Saturday as they defeated Eastern Michigan in four sets.
The Bobcats' loss last week kept them out of the top-25 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, and they currently sit at No. 26 in the nation with 87 points.
Despite losing one out of two matches last week, Ohio graduate student middle blocker Alexis Pinson was named the Mid-American Conference West Division's defensive player of the week on Monday. This was the second consecutive week she had been recognized with the award, and the third time this season.
Toldeo (11-9, 4-2 MAC) took the floor on Friday looking to extend its conference win streak to five games. The Rockets defeated Northern Illinois and Western Michigan last weekend, each in five sets.
Rockets freshman libero Ellen Hays was named the MAC West defensive player of the week on Monday, as she recorded 50 digs during the teams' matches last weekend.
Coming into Friday, Ohio had a 33-15 record all-time against Toldeo, which included two straight-set sweep victories by the Bobcats last season.
Follow @ThePostSports on Twitter for more in-game updates from Staff Writer and volleyball beat writer Alex Busch.
First Set
Ohio started the match with a kill each by Katie Horton and Pinson, but then Toledo fought back to tie the match at 3. A kill by Kelly Lamberti helped Ohio get back to a two point lead. Ohio led 6-4.
The teams went back and forth, but then three straight points by Toledo gave them the lead. Toledo then led 10-9.
A kill by Lamberti tied the set at 10, but then three straight points by the Rockets forced the Bobcats to take a time. Toledo led 13-10.
The teams exchanged points, and then Toledo scored three straight points. Ohio answered with two points of its own, including an ace by Pinson. Toldeo led 17-14.
The teams went back and forth, and neither team could string together two points, so the Bobcats took a timeout. Toledo led 22-18.
After the timeout, the teams exchanged points again, but then the Bobcats scored two straight points, including another kill by Lamberti. Toledo then took a timeout, as they led 23-21.
After the timeout, the Bobcats pushed for a comeback, but Toledo held on to win two more points and take the opening set by two.
Final: Ohio 23, Toledo 25
Second Set: Ohio 0, Toledo 1
Ohio started the set with an 8-3 run, which included two kills each by Gilleland and Karin Bull.
The teams went back and forth for a while, and then two kills by Bull and a kill by Horton in a short 3-1 run put Ohio up by six, Toledo took a timeout. Ohio led 16-10.
Two quick points after the timeout by Ohio forced Toledo to take another timeout. Ohio led 18-10.
The teams exchanged one point each after the timeout, but then a service error by Toledo and a kill each by Lamberti and Kullerkann put Ohio up 22-11.
Toledo then scored a point, but Ohio finished the set scoring three of the last four points, including two kills by Kullerkann. Ohio finished the set on an 11-2 run.
Final: Ohio 25, Toledo 13
Third Set: Ohio 1, Toledo 1
The two teams exchanged points to open the set until the match was tied 8-8, but then Toledo won two straight to take the first two point lead of the set. Toledo led 10-8.
After Toledo took this lead, Ohio then scored six of the next seven points, including a kill and block each from Lamberti and Bull. Toledo took a timeout, and Ohio led 14-11.
After the timeout, Toldeo cut Ohio's lead to just one. Ohio then scored four out of the next five points off of four Ohio kills, forcing Toledo to take a timeout. Ohio then led 19-15.
Toledo won the first point after the timeout, but then Ohio won five straight points, including three kills from Kullerkann. Ohio led 24-16.
The match is then finished with a service ace by Pinson. The Bobcats finished with scoring the last six points in the set, on a 10-2 run.
Final: Ohio 25, Toledo 16
Fourth Set: Ohio 2, Toledo 1
The teams started the match by getting off to a 5-5 tie, but then a kill each by Horton and Pinson helped the Bobcats take an early 8-6 lead.
Toledo then fought back with a 7-1 run, which gave the Rockets a four point lead. Toledo then lead 13-9.
The Bobcats responded with the next three points, and then went on to extend that to a 7-2 run. After Gilleland got an ace, Toledo called a timeout. Ohio then led 17-14.
After an Ohio point, Toledo scores two of their own. The teams then went back and forth, which forced Toledo to call a timeout. Ohio led 20-18.
The Bobcats then scored the next four points, but Toledo fought back with three straight points of their own. Ohio took a timeout, as they led 24-21.
After the timeout, Lamberti killed the ball, and gave the Bobcats the match.
Final: Ohio 25, Toledo 21
Final: Ohio 3, Toledo 1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-21)
Ohio
Abby Gilleland - 50 assists, 12 digs, 7 kills, 1 ace
Kelly Lamberti - 18 kills, 6 digs, 1 block
Mallory Salis/Meredith Ashy - 16 digs
Liis Kullerkann - 14 kills, 4 digs
Karin Bull - 13 kills, 2.5 blocks, 2 digs, 1 assist
Toledo
Adria Pryor - 38 assists, 15 digs, 1 kill
Lauren Rafdal - 16 kills, 13 digs, 1 assists, 1 ace
Becca Reidy - 10 kills, 10 digs, 1 assist
Reactions
"Kelly got pretty creative on that last shot, went high over top, and made a nice play to the corner. It was a pretty good shot to win it, we're happy to get out of there." -- Theis on scoring the last point after being stuck on match point
"Me and (Meredith) are a great duo in the back row, we talk really well between each other. I think we're pretty much the same person, we never want to let a ball drop. That together doesn't let a lot of balls drop." -- Mallory Salis on the combination of play between her and Meredith Ashy (16 digs each)
"I think (Toledo) played pretty well defensively in the first (set), and then I think our offense kind of cranked it up. (Our) hitters started to move around a bit, and that put pressure on them." -- Theis on the change of play after the first set
"We put a lot of focus in practice this week to make sure we're more balanced. When someone's having a rough day or the other team is stopping someone, (we want) to make sure there's someone else to step it up." -- Kullerkann on the balance of the team
Up Next
Ohio (16-3, 6-1 MAC) stays at first in the MAC East, and hits the floor again on Saturday against MAC West leader Ball State.
Ball State (18-4, 6-1 MAC) comes into Athens off a 3-1 victory in Kent State on Friday. The Cardinals will be trying to extend their winning streak to five matches on Saturday as the East and West division leaders will hit the court in The Convo.
The Cardinals lead the MAC in kills and assists per set, and they rank second in the conference in aces, and third in hitting percentage.
Ohio trails in the two teams' all-time series record 15-33, but the Bobcats were victorious in the only matchup last season as they swept the Cardinals in Muncie, Ind.
