Oct. 26, 2007
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The No. 19 Ohio volleyball team posted its eighth straight victory Friday evening, defeating Akron in straight games, 30-21, 30-14, 31-29, at the Convocation Center. Ohio improves to 18-4 overall and 10-1 in Mid-American Conference play, while Akron falls to 9-15 overall and 1-10 in the MAC.
Senior middle blocker Melissa Griffin (Whitehall, Mich.) once again led the Bobcat attack, collecting a match-high 15 kills and hitting .433. The senior co-captain is now just 18 kills away from establishing a new all-time record at Ohio, currently held by former Bobcat Lori Dyer (93-96) with 1,539 kills.
Sophomore outside hitter Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio) joined Griffin in double-digit kills, collecting 14 for the match on a .276 hitting percentage.
Ohio hit .248 for the match, their lowest percentage against a MAC opponent this season, but held Akron to a .174 hitting percentage, to grind out the three-game win.
The Bobcats led the entire first game, en route to a 30-21 win. Ohio got out to a 5-1 start, before Akron mounted a comeback. The Zips tied the game at 10-10 and again at 11-11, but they were never able to take the lead. Ohio broke the final tie with a seven point run, to go in front 18-11, and Akron got no closer than three points the rest of the way.
The Zips had nine total blocks in the first game and finished with 18 for the match.
In the second game, Ohio won 14 of the first 20 points to take control and the Bobcats never looked back, winning the game 30-14. Ohio hit .333 in the game, led by Herman's five kills on eight swings. Akron hit .065 in the second game.
Both teams exchanged points throughout the entire third game, with Akron taking a 23-20 advantage. Senior outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) then slammed a kill, followed by kills from Herman and Griffin, tying the game at 23-23. Akron gained a one point lead twice more, but the Bobcats refused to allow the match to go past three games. The score was tied at 29-29, when the two senior co-captains, Blackburn and Griffin, connected on back-to-back kills, giving Ohio the 3-0 victory.
Ohio freshman setter Michelle Jantsch (Mission Hills, Kansas) had a match-high 33 assists and added eight digs and sophomore libero Sarah Petrulis (Westlake, Ohio) had 11 digs in the win.
Blackburn totaled nine kills and 12 digs for the match.
The Bobcats return to action tomorrow night at the Convocation Center, when they take the court against Buffalo at 7 p.m. Prior to Saturday's match is Ohio's "Trick or Treat at the Convo" beginning at 6 p.m. The Halloween themed event will continue until the start of the match and fans are encouraged to come in costume and bring bags to collect their candy in. There will be a costume contest for kids and all kids dressed up will get to show off their costume on the court during the match.
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Wes Liles is the volleyball contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.
