Pregame
Ohio (18-4, 8-2 MAC) entered Friday after sweeping its road trip through Northern Illinois and Western Michigan for the first time since 2007. The Bobcats defeated Northern Illinois in four sets, before taking down Western Michigan in five sets the next night. Western Michigan's loss was its third time dropping a conference match at home since 2008.
On Monday, sophomore setter Abby Gilleland and graduate student middle blocker Alexis Pinson were named the Mid-American Conference East Division's offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively.
Akron (6-15, 0-10 MAC) hit the court on Friday looking to seal its first conference victory this season. The Zips ranked last among MAC teams in every statistical category during conference play, except aces, which they ranked second-worst.
Ohio is 32-23 against Akron in all-time history, with a 9-1 record against the Zips under coach Ryan Theis.
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 5-1 run, which included two kills each by Liis Kullerkann and Alexis Pinson. Ohio scored four of the next six points, forcing Akron to call a timeout. Ohio led 9-3.
The teams went back and forth for a while, but two straight Ohio kills, by Pinson and Kullerkann, extended the Bobcats' lead to eight. Akron took its second timeout. Ohio led 17-9
The Bobcats scored three of the next four points after the timeout, including two straight kills by Mallory Salis. Ohio increased its lead to 20-10.
The teams exchanged five combined points, but then a kill each by Katie Horton and Kullerkann put the Bobcats at match point. Ohio led 24-13.
Ohio dropped the next point, but a kill by Horton sealed the set for Ohio.
Final: Ohio 25, Akron 14
Second Set: Ohio 1, Akron 0
The teams exchanged points to start the set, but then Akron was able to get off to a two point lead, twice. Akron led 7-5.
Ohio scored the next three points, including a kill by Gilleland and an ace by Salis. Ohio then led 8-7.
The teams went back and forth, then a kill each by Salis and Kullerkann, along with an ace by Geneva Yee, put the Bobcats ahead by four. Akron then called timeout, as they trailed 15-11.
Right after the timeout, Yee notched another ace, but then Akron scores four straight points of its own. The Bobcats call a timeout, as their lead was cut to 17-15.
After the timeout, the Bobcats went on an 8-2 run, which gave them the set by eight. Salis had a kill and an ace in the last eight points.
Final: Ohio 25, Akron 17
Third Set: Ohio 2, Akron 0
The teams went back and forth to start the set, but then four straight points by Akron gave the Zips an early 7-4 lead.
Ohio came back with six of the next seven points, including two kills each by Salis and Kullerkann. This gave the Bobcats a two point lead. Akron called timeout, as Ohio then led 10-8.
Ohio went on a 9-2 run after the timeout, including four errors by Akron, and an ace by Brooke Coleman. Akron took a timeout, as it trailed 19-10.
A kill each by Horton and Salis help Ohio score the next three points, but then Akron comes back by scoring three of the next four points. Ohio then led 23-13.
Horton and Salis killed the ball, and capped off an 18-5 run to take the set and the match in straight sets.
Final: Ohio 25, Akron 13
Final: Ohio 3, Akron 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-13)
Ohio
Meredith Ashy - 25 digs, 1 ace, 3 assists
Mallory Salis - 12 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces, 1 assist
Abby Gilleland - 33 assists, 5 digs, 4 kills, 1 ace
Alexis Pinson - 6 kills, 4 digs, 1 ace, 1 block
Liis Kullerkann - 9 kills
Akron
Ashley Holder - 28 assists, 7 digs
Jill Paluch - 18 digs, 2 assists
Alex Cocklin - 8 kills, 8 digs
Reactions
"These are the toughest matches to win. It seems like they are not a good team, but Akron is actually a really strong team with a lot of potential. Our motto is start from the start and I think we did that really well this match." -- Freshman outside hitter/libero Mallory Salis on playing a team winless in conference play
"We want to dig-to-kill as much as we can. We are unstoppable in the front row, so as long we dig it we need to kill it." -- Sophomore libero Meredith Ashy on the importance of transition kills
"It was a great effort by (Meredith) tonight. She's playing with a lot of younger players around her without Kelly (Lamberti) on the floor. We really worked with her to being more vocal and putting players in position because her wingman really isn't there." -- Coach Ryan Theis on Ashy's performance without Kelly Lamberti on the floor
Up Next
Ohio (19-4, 9-2 MAC) faces Buffalo on Saturday in The Convo for the second home game in as many days.
Buffalo (16-7, 4-6 MAC) began the season with a 12-match winning streak, but has gone 4-7 since then. The Bulls were the No. 1 blocking team in the nation when the Bobcats defeated them in late September, but have fallen to No. 15, which is one spot behind Ohio.
The Bulls rank among the bottom three teams in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage in conference play. Ohio leads the all-time series against Buffalo 30-2, including a 3-1 victory in Buffalo on September 27th.
