Back-to-back games against conference opponents are a staple throughout the volleyball season and Ohio (11-4, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) was able to win big against the University of Akron (6-10,1-3 MAC), which sets the Bobcats up well throughout the first few weeks of MAC play. Both games Ohio won 3-1, with Akron always fighting back.
“They are an incredible team,” Ohio Head Coach Kenzie Brinkman said. “They are going to cause a ruckus absolutely this year.”
Preparing for divisional opponents as players in back to back nights can be tough, especially with a scrappy team like Akron who adapted after Friday's game and was able to win a set against Ohio and even stick with the team throughout all four sets.
“I think we just go back to how we know we can play and we just stick to our game plan,” Ohio freshman Rowan Kelly said.
The same also applies for coaching, as Brinkman needs to make sure the game plans are still solid and the players are still energized and ready to go.
“To beat them twice is crazy,” Brinkman said. “It was watching film, seeing what differences we needed to shore up a little bit and then playing a little bit of a strategic volleyball game.”
Both of these games showed how the other team can adapt. In the second game after Ohio won the first set, Akron came storming out and instantly took control, all but willing its way to win the second set. The third set also was very close for the Bobcats, with Akron being tied or in the lead numerous times.
“I think that was mostly just us and our lack of focus a little bit,” Brinkman said. “Akron did a really good job of putting it to it. They were getting random touches and when you play a team like that it's just annoying. It causes you to panic, do things and play outside yourself a little bit.”
One of the key factors that led to both wins was Ohio’s serves. Throughout both games against Akron and previous matches, service aces have come from numerous players and catching teams off guard. Over both of the Akron games, Ohio registered 12 total service aces, with contribution from six players.
“They’re dialed right now,” Brinkman said. “We serve every day and see servers short, we serve drops and we drop servers. I think I have a roster full of really talented servers that are able to hit the zones that I’m telling them and at a very efficient level.”
One of those players contributing was Rowan Kelly, one of the new freshmen on the team who already looks like a veteran. No matter where she is behind the net, Kelly always makes a difference for the Bobcats, contributing alongside veterans like Gentry Brown
“It's about confidence and how much we show,” Brown said. “We are one of the better teams and we need to show it.”
These two wins will prove to be vital for the Bobcats, as a tough schedule awaits them in the coming weeks of conference play. The team travels to Bowling Green State University next weekend, taking on a team that knocked them out of the MAC tournament last season. Even though Ohio beat Akron, it looks to still learn from mistakes in this game to apply to future wins.
“We’re doing a lot of really good stuff right now,” Brinkman said. “I think we need to keep our level of play at a consistent level the entire. We know how good we can be and when we are dialed and a super good offensive team, things go really well.”
