Nov. 3, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - With first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division on the line Saturday evening, senior middle blocker Melissa Griffin (Whitehall, Mich.) and the No. 16 Ohio volleyball team delivered, defeating Miami 3-1 (26-30, 30-28, 30-25, 30-24) at Millett Hall.
Griffin totaled 18 kills in the match, breaking the career kills record at Ohio formerly held by Lori Dyer (1993-96). Griffin surpassed Dyer's 1,539 career kills during the middle of the third game, when she slammed her 12th kill of the match to give Ohio a 13-12 lead. Griffin now has 1,546 kills in her Ohio career.
With the victory Ohio (20-4, 12-1 MAC) takes a one and a half-match lead over Miami (14-9, 11-3 MAC) in the East Division.
The win avenges Ohio's loss to Miami on Sept. 28, the Bobcats' only loss to a MAC school in its last 75 matches against conference opponents.
Ohio dropped the first game to Miami, 26-30, marking the first time this season that the Bobcats lost the opening game of a MAC match. Ohio showed its resilience however, coming back to win the next three games behind the outstanding play of Griffin.
Griffin had a record breaking night on the attack, but the senior co-captain also stepped up for the `Cats defensively. Along with her match-high 18 kills, she also totaled a season-high 11 blocks in the match, which ties a team season-high.
The Bobcats landed 71 kills in the match and hit .247 compared to Miami's 64 kills and .198 hitting percentage.
Ohio senior outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn had a night to remember as well. Blackburn moved into second place on the all-time digs list at Ohio in the Bobcat victory. She totaled a match-high 20 digs, giving her 1,544 for her career, second only to her older sister, Michaele Blackburn, who amassed 2,091 during her career.
In the second game, Ohio built a 21-13 lead as Griffin connected on three kills and added six blocks. Miami rallied back in the game, scoring 10 of the next 13 points to cut the lead to 24-23. Ohio was able to maintain the lead for the remainder of the match and on the third game-point, Blackburn connected on a kill to give Ohio the 30-28 win and even the match at 1-1.
Along with her 20 digs, Blackburn finished with 11 kills (.171) on the night to register her 13th double-double of the season.
Ohio sophomore middle blocker Jane Sytsma (Madison, Wis.) had a solid second game, connecting on four kills on five swings to go with three blocks. For the match Sytsma totaled nine kills (.278) and had eight blocks.
The pivotal third game was close throughout, with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage for the first 42 points. With Ohio leading 23-20 the Bobcats finally ended the point-for-point exchange. Sytsma landed a kill, followed by a Miami attack error and another Sytsma kill, giving Ohio a 25-20 lead, and the Bobcats went on to win 30-25 to take a 2-1 advantage.
Ohio hit .381 and held Miami to a .222 hitting percentage in the fourth game to close out the match with a 30-24 win. The game was tied at 7-7 when the Bobcats ran off seven straight points to take a 13-7 lead. The RedHawks fought their way back, cutting the lead to 24-21, but they would get no closer.
Freshman setter Michelle Jantsch (Mission Hills, Kansas) recorded the second double-double of her collegiate career in the victory, posting 42 assists and 11 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio) finished with 15 kills and hit .190 and sophomore middle blocker Meghan Simons (Lancaster, Ohio) had eight kills (.080) and eight blocks for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats travel to Bowling Green tomorrow (Nov. 4), for their final conference road match of the season. Bowling Green (19-8, 10-4 MAC) is a perfect 12-0 at home this season and is currently two and a half wins behind Ohio in the East Division standings. The Falcons are attempting to set a new school attendance record at the match, which is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
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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.
