Nov. 1, 2008
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - Junior outside hitter Ellen Herman ripped a match-high 16 kills on Saturday night to propel the Ohio University volleyball team to a sweep (25-22, 25-20, 25-18) of Akron, as she and sophomore setter Michelle Jantsch extended their double-double streaks to three and four matches, respectively.
"Akron was really digging the ball well and making great saves, but we were able to grind out points and stay in rallies, which was key to winning the match tonight," Ohio head coach Ryan Theis said. "We didn't play high-error, and we were able to execute late in sets to win crucial points. We kept the pressure on them all night long, but we certainly had to earn everything we got because they were playing so well on defense."
Herman (Toledo, Ohio), who moved past former Ohio star Katie Mullen for seventh place on the program's career attacks list in the victory, collected her 16 kills on .378 hitting, marking the third time in her last five matches that Herman has hit .350 or better. She also picked up a team-high 12 digs on the night to lock up her seventh double-double of the season, and her third in as many matches.
Jantsch finished the night with 29 assists and 10 digs, marking her fourth-consecutive double-double, and sixth of the campaign. In addition to guiding the Bobcat offense to a .264 hitting percentage, Jantsch chipped in with a half dozen kills on .385 hitting, matching her season high with 13 attempts.
Ohio (16-7, 9-3 Mid-American Conference) was once again led in blocks by its duo of junior middle blockers, as Meghan Simons (Lancaster, Ohio) and Jane Sytsma (Madison, Wis.) tallied three apiece on Saturday to spur the Bobcats to a 8.0-4.0 advantage at the net. Both Simons and Sytsma were also factors in the offensive game against the Zips, as the former had six kills and the latter finished with eight on a .300 hitting clip.
Jantsch and senior opposite hitter Amanda Andersen (Lino Lakes, Minn.) also chipped in with a pair of blocks apiece, while Herman and sophomore outside hitter Sue Jacobi (Louisville, Ky.) each chalked up a solo rejection on the night.
In addition to Herman and Jantsch's double-figure efforts, defensive specialists Molly Mangan (Claire, Ill.) and Meryl Bender (Yorktown, Ind.) both collected eight digs, and junior libero Sarah Petrulis (Westlake, Ohio) added a half dozen.
"This was a complete match for us because we were able to both establish what we wanted to do on offense and withstand a great defensive effort from our opponent," Theis said. "At this point in the season, the ability to those two things, as well as finish teams out late in sets, is critical."
Ohio will take the court again on Friday, when it hosts division-leading Miami at 7 p.m. ET. The Bobcats will wear pink uniforms in support of the Dig Pink Program and the Side Out Foundation, which is at the forefront of the sport's efforts in the fight against breast cancer. Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the Ohio Ticket Office beginning 90 minutes prior to the match.
