The Ohio volleyball team has added three new faces to an experienced roster, but its main goal hasn't changed -beat the best and be the best.
The Bobcats have had to make some adjustments to the team this year after losing two-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Laura Hageman, but those adjustments have worked well, catapulting them to an 8-2 record.
With three new players added to the team and three sophomores, the Bobcats have a younger team this year. Many players have had to step into different roles to help the Bobcats be successful. The freshmen have already developed into their roles early this season.
Everyone has had to fulfill a role this year
coach Geoff Carlston said. Some players have new roles this year to benefit the team.
Freshman outside hitters Stephanie Blackburn and Katie Wooldridge and freshman middle blocker Melissa Griffin have played a huge part in the team's success early on.
Our freshmen have done a good job of adjusting and our seniors are leading the team setter Briana Adamovksy said.
Only a few weeks into the season, Stephanie Blackburn has been named MAC Player of the Week and recorded several personal bests. During the win against then-No. 18 Pepperdine, she had career highs of 19 kills and 15 digs. Against Southern Mississippi she had a career-high .542 attack percentage and during the Colorado State Classic tournament she recorded 42 kills and 34 digs.
The freshman is second on the team with 86 digs and 99 kills and leads the team in service aces with 12.
Griffin, who has also seen a good amount of playing time, has accumulated 71 kills, 13 digs and seven blocks this season. She is second on the team in total blocks with 37 and fifth with a .308 attack percentage.
Though the team might be young, the talent is still as strong as ever, backed by the experience of the four seniors who have contributed heavily to the team's wins, especially Adamovsky.
In her fourth year at Ohio, Adamovksy has used her experience to lead the team. Adamovksy already has been named MAC Player of the Week and named to two all-tournament teams this season. She also was named MVP at the Furman Invitational.
Adamovksy has tallied 42 kills and 66 digs so far this season. She has recorded 413 assists, an average of 12.91 per game.
Right now, the Bobcats have a better record than they posted last year. After 10 matches last year Ohio was 7-3, compared to this year's 8-2. The team has also moved up in the rankings this week in the USA Today/CSTV Coaches Poll, moving from No. 33 to No. 32.
Last weekend, Ohio recorded the biggest upset in the program's 31-year history by beating then-No. 18 Pepperdine. The only other time the team has beat a ranked team was last season against then-No. 23 Missouri.
The Bobcats also have allowed only two matches to go more than three games, which they have split.
We are a better defensive team this year outside hitter Julia Winkfield said. Our offense is also strong and that makes our team a dominant force.
The team's stats compared to those of its opponents are what tells why Ohio has been very dominant during the season. Ohio has outhit, outscored and committed fewer errors than its opponents.
The Bobcats have recorded 511 kills and 467 assists to their opponents' 384 and 359, respectively. Ohio has also outblocked the opposition, 101.5-75.5 and outdug them 476-423.
The team now has to try and follow in last year's footsteps to win the MAC title and get an NCAA Tournament bid.
We have been working hard and we have our goals set
Stephanie Blackburn said.
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CLASSIC CONCENTRATION: Ohio setter Savanah Parra prepares to serve during practice last week. After the season's first 10 matches, Parra has amassed 63 digs, 10 assists and six service aces.
