Volleyball is a game of runs. Just ask Ohio volleyball coach Geoff Carlston.
His Bobcats put together more runs than the Buffalo Bulls and the Akron Zips this weekend as Ohio swept both teams in controlling fashion at home.
However, the first run of the match Saturday with the Zips was Akron's game one-opening 5-0 run to jump in front of the Bobcats. That would be the biggest run either opponent would have against Ohio as the 'Cats responded by taking over the momentum.
The Bobcats evened the game up at 9-9 then built a comfortable lead until they went on a game-ending 8-0 run. Ohio continued the run throughout the second game and strung a monstrous 22-3 combined streak to put the second game almost out of reach.
We talk about trying to control the momentum and tempo
because volleyball is a game that you can't control everything Carlston said. You have to stay in the momentum and focus on the next point you do that enough you will get that run
and volleyball is a game of runs ' not always 22-3
but three and four point runs
those add up and are huge.
Ohio cruised in the third game by using a 9-0 run to open up the lead en route to the victory. The 3-0 win (30-17, 30-15, 30-17) over Akron pushed Ohio's record to 16-3, 8-0 in the Mid-American Conference.
When the Bobcats stumbled at the start of the first game, Carlston quickly called a timeout to get his team's collective head back into the match.
Outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn, who had 19 kills and 16 digs this weekend, said the timeout helped the team get out of its early funk.
Coach told us to get our attack together
pick up the energy and start playing
because a team like them (Akron) shouldn't come out and get up on us
Blackburn said.
We responded and our passing was working well
our middles were mixing it up with a lot of different plays opening up the outside hitters too
she added
Friday night, Ohio made quick work of the Bulls 3-0 (30-15, 30-11, 30-18). The Bobcats used their controlling tempo to shut down the only MAC team to take a game from them this season.
Volleyball is such a momentum-based sport and it just shifts back and forth. I don't think of our tempo as a run
