Oct. 21, 2005
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The 22nd-ranked Ohio volleyball team nearly saw its 30-game winning streak come to an end in the first game against Western Michigan but pulled it out with a 3-0 (35-33, 30-19, 30-26) sweep of the Broncos here tonight.
The win extends Ohio's game winning streak to 33 and keeps the Bobcats unbeaten in Mid-American Conference action. The Bobcats also extended their match winning streak in the MAC to 33 in moving to 9-0 in the conference and 19-2 overall. Western Michigan falls to 6-4 in MAC play and 13-7 overall.
Stephanie Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Bobcat attack with 18 kills. Holly Schetzsle (Pataskala, Ohio) added 14 kills and Melissa Griffin (Whitehall, Mich.) had 13 for her team-leading 15th match with double-digit kills.
Savanah Parra (Temecula, Calif.), fourth in the nation in assists with 14.38 assists per frame coming in, added to that number with 54 helpers. Ohio hit .324 for the match marking the 13th time this season the Bobcats have hit over .300.
Michaele Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the back row with 11 digs for her 20th match with double-digit kills. Molly Mangan (Claire, Ill.) added 10 digs and Stephanie Blackburn narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs. Amanda Andersen (Lino Lakes, Minn.) led the team with three total blocks.
The opening frame was close throughout with neither team holding a lead greater than four. With the game tied at five, the Broncos went on a 6-2 run to take an 11-7 lead, the largest of the frame. The Bobcats ran off three straight points to close to within one point but were unable to equal Western Michigan until Michaele Blackburn aced the Broncos to even the score at 20.
Ohio and Western Michigan traded points until the Broncos grabbed a 25-23 lead. The Bobcats quickly erased the deficit, running off three straight points to take a one point advantage at 26-25. The teams exchanged points until Western Michigan took a 33-32 lead, putting Ohio on the ropes. The Bobcats responded by taking the final three points, two coming on Stephanie Blackburn kills, to win the frame 35-33. The 68 combined points is the most in a game for Ohio since Oct. 12, 2003, when the Bobcats defeated Central Michigan 36-34 in the third frame.
The Bobcats carried over the momentum into the second game. Ohio ran out to an 11-3 lead, highlighted by three Stephanie Blackburn kills. Western Michigan cut the lead to six at 14-8 but the Bobcats responded with a 7-2 run to go up 21-10. Ohio pushed its lead to a game-high 14 at 25-11 and the Broncos would get no closer than nine the rest of the way with the Bobcats taking the frame 30-19.
The third and final game started on the same path as the first until the midway point. The teams went back and forth and were tied at 10 in the early goings. Ohio then ran off five straight points, with Julia Winkfield (Newark, Ohio) putting down two kills, to grab a 15-10 lead.
Western Michigan cut the gap to two at 16-14 but would get no closer. The Bobcats kept the Broncos at arms length and Stephanie Blackburn recorded kills on three of Ohio's final four points as the Bobcats took the third frame 30-26.
Ohio will be back in action tomorrow night when it plays MAC West foe Northern Illinois. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
