Sept. 9, 2005
Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Ohio University volleyball team swept Pennsylvania 3-0 (30-23, 30-16, 30-25) and defeated Iona 3-1 (30-20, 24-30, 30-13, 30-26) at the first day of the UAlbany Tournament.
The Bobcats had four players hit. 350 or better and three players reached double-digits in kills against Penn. Julia Winkfield (Newark, Ohio), Holly Schetzsle (Pataskala, Ohio), Melissa Griffin (Whitehall, Mich.) and Stephanie Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) all hit at least .350. Winkfield and Griffin paced the Bobcat attack with 12 kills a piece with Blackburn adding 11 of her own.
Savanah Parra (Temecula, Calif.) set the Ohio attack with 44 assists while Blackburn completed her third double-double of the season with 13 digs. Molly Mangan (Claire, Ill.) added 10 digs to the Bobcat defensive effort.
The Bobcats posted their second-best hitting performance of the year connecting at a .337 clip. Ohio's defense also played well holding Penn to a .070 hitting percentage.
Ohio wasted little time jumping on the Quakers starting the match with an 8-0 run behind the serving of Parra. Penn fought back closing to within 21-19 but the would not it get any closer, scoring nine of the game's final 13 points to pull out the 30-23 win.
The Bobcats again asserted themselves early jumping out to a 10-4 lead behind three Blackburn and two Schetzsle kills. Ohio would not the Quakers back into this game. The Bobcats closed out the second game with a 9-2 run to take the second frame 30-16.
The tables were turned on Ohio in the third game with Penn gaining the early 6-2 advantage. The Bobcats clawed back to even the score at 10. The game went back and forth until Ohio took the lead for good at 22-21. The Bobcats finished off the Quakers with a 30-25 game three win.
Ohio returned to the court two hours later and took out the Gaels of Iona in four frames. Blackburn led the Bobcats, posting her third consecutive double-double with a team-high 17 kills and 15 digs. Griffin added her first career double-double putting down 14 kills while digging 11 balls, serving four aces and blocking four attacks. Three other players tallied eight kills.
Parra and Jill DeArmond (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) split the setting duties. Parra assisted on a team-best 29 kills while DeArmond added a career-high 25 helpers. Michaele Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) led four Bobcats in double-digit digs with 25.
Winkfield had two blocks on the match with her second block moving her into fourth place on Ohio's all-time blocks list.
The Bobcats continued their fast starts taking advantage of numerous Gael hitting errors to take a 10-2 lead. Iona would close the gap to four at 12-8 but Ohio kept did not allow the Gaels to get any closer winning the opening frame 30-20.
Ohio rebounded from losing game two by hitting .414 in the match-turning game three. The Bobcats gained the early 6-1 advantage but Iona remained close until midway through the game. Leading 13-10, Ohio embarked on a 14-1 run to go up 27-11 behind the serving of Griffin. The Bobcats scored nine straight points during the run with three of the points coming on Griffin aces. Ohio took the third frame 30-13.
The Bobcats fell behind 5-2 in the fourth game but were able to put together another big run to gain the momentum. Ohio went on a 14-0 run with Griffin serving and Winkfield attacking. Griffin served 13 of the 14 points and Winkfield posted four kills during the run. Iona made a last ditch effort to get in the match but it was too little, too late as the Bobcats took the decisive fourth game and the match.
Stephanie Blackburn concluded the day with 28 kills, 28 digs and two aces while Griffin contributed 26 kills, 12 digs, five blocks and four aces.
The Bobcats will conclude the tourney tomorrow against host Albany. The match is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
