Pregame
Ohio (23-4, 13-2 MAC) came into the final Mid-American Conference regular season match on a seven match winning streak, including a 3-0 sweep against Kent State on Thursday.
The win on Thursday gave the Bobcats the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament, as well as at least a share of the MAC regular season title. Ohio led Toldeo by one game in the MAC standings before Saturday, so it needed a win or a Toldeo loss to claim the outright MAC title.
Central Michigan (11-6, 5-10 MAC) cames into Saturday after being swept by Eastern Michigan Thursday night. Eastern Michigan currenly holds the last spot in the MAC Tournament, so Central Michigan needed a win and an Eastern Michigan loss on Saturday to qualify for the conference tournament.
The Chippewas have lost their last five matches and currently sit at fifth in the MAC West after receiving three first place votes to win the West during the preseason.
Saturday will mark Ohio’s last home match of the season, so the program will honor its four seniors during the team’s annual Senior Night celebration. Outside hitters Liis Kullerkann and Kellie Turner, along with middle blocker Alexis Pinson and defensive specialist Mollie Geske were to be recognized Saturday night.
Follow @ThePostSports on Twitter for more in-game updates from Staff Writer and volleyball beat writer Alex Busch.
First Set
Ohio started the match by scoring six of the first seven points, finished with two straight aces by Brooke Coleman. Central Michigan called timeout, as Ohio led 6-1.
After the timeout the teams went back and forth for three points, but then four straight kills by the Bobcats put them up by 8. Ohio then led 11-3.
A 6-2 run by Central Michigan then cut Ohio's lead to 16-11.
Ohio then responded with four straight points, including an ace by Alexis Pinson. Central Michigan called timeout, while Ohio led 20-11.
Central Michigan fought back with a small 3-0 run, but two kills by Karin Bull helped Ohio finish the set on a 3-0 run.
Kelly Lamberti recorded her 1,000th career dig during the opening set, she is now one of three players in all-time program history to register 1,000 kills and 1,000 assists.
Final: Ohio 25, Central Michigan 15
Second Set: Ohio 1, Central Michigan 0
Two kills by Lamberti got Ohio off to a 5-2 lead early in the set, but Central Michigan cut the lead to just one with two straight points. Ohio led 5-4.
Ohio then went on another run, this one at 5-1, forcing Central Michigan to call timeout. Pinson had two straight block assists before the timeout was called. Ohio then led 10-5.
After the timeout the Bobcats resumed right where they were, as Pinson blocked the ball again and Ohio increased its lead to 13-6.
Central Michigan came back with two points, but an ace by Mallory Salis put Ohio up 15-8.
The teams exchange points, but two straight by Ohio forces a Central Michigan timeout. Bobcats led 18-10.
The Bobcats' fifth ace of the night put them up 20-11, then the teams exchanged points back and forth. Ohio led 22-13.
Ohio finished the set on a 4-1 run, which was ended by a Liis Kullerkann kill. Lamberti notched four kills in the set.
Final: Ohio 25, Central Michigan 14
Third Set: Ohio 2, Central Michigan 0
The teams went back and forth for a while without either team gaining too much momentum, but then five straight points for Central Michigan forced Ohio to call timeout. CMU led 11-9.
A kill by Bull and two Central Michigan errors gave Ohio the lead back, but then points by Central Michigan tied the set at 12 and 13.
Each team strung together two straight points, putting Central Michigan up by one. A service error by CMU helped Ohio then tie the set at 16.
Central Michigan took the lead back again, but three straight points by Ohio gave it the lead, forcing a CMU timeout. Ohio then led 19-18.
A 4-1 run after the timeout, including an ace by Geneva Yee gave Ohio a 23-19 lead. Central Michigan called timeout, as it trailed 23-19.
Two kills sealed the victory for the Bobcats, as they clinched the MAC title with another straight-set sweep.
Final: Ohio 25, Central Michigan 19
Final: Ohio 3, Central Michigan 0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-19)
Ohio
Kelly Lamberti - 10 kills, 10 digs, 4 assists, 1 ace
Abby Gilleland - 28 assists, 5 kills, 2 digs
Meredith Ashy - 16 digs, 2 assists
Mallory Salis - 9 digs, 3 aces, 3 kills 1 assist
Karin Bull - 8 kills, 1.5 blocks, 1 dig
Central Michigan
Kaitlyn McIntyre - 13 kills, 6 digs, 1 ace
Danie Thompson - 25 assists, 6 digs, 1 kill
Jenna Coates - 15 digs, 2 assists
Reactions
"I was happy with our efficiency and love the way we were able to control the ball and score. I'm happy that we get to go into next weekend playing well." -- Coach Ryan Theis on the performance of his team in the home finale
"(Central Michigan) come out with a ton of energy and have great defense and hitters, so we had to handle all of it at once." -- Junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti on facing Central Michigan
"Having my (American) parents here was great. I love playing in front of the crowd, I felt like there was more energy coming from it tonight. The team was really pumped for (the seniors) and wanted to help us win." -- Redshirt junior outside hitter Liis Kullerkann on her experience during senior night
Up Next
Junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti and sophomore libero Meredith Ashy both recorded their 1,000th career digs Saturday. Lamberti became one of just three players in all-time Ohio history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career during the rally-scoring era.
Ohio (24-4, 14-2 MAC) claimed the outright MAC regular season title with its win on Saturday and it will head to Geneva, Ohio for the MAC Tournament on Friday, where the Bobcats will play as the No. 1 seed.
The Bobcats will face Kent State (12-17, 6-10 MAC), who Ohio defeated in a sweep on Friday. The Bobcats also lost to the Golden Flashes 3-1 last month in Kent.
