Oct. 22, 2010

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio - Sue Jacobi became the 11th player in Ohio Volleyball history to surpass 1,000 kills but Ohio (13-9, 5-4) fell in straight sets to Western Michigan (17-6, 7-2) this evening, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22.

"We didn't give ourselves chances to run points because we missed serves," Theis said. "We let them off the hook in too many opportunities, where maybe we could have pounced on them and gone up a couple of points."

The Bobcats jumped out 4-0 in the first set but WMU grabbed six of the next eight points to even things 6-6. The set remained tied 14-14 before the 'Cats grabbed five points in a row behind the play of Jacobi and Lexie Hartnett. Once again though, the Broncos would rally by snagging six of the next seven and evening things at 20-20. Successive kills by Nichols earned Ohio a 22-20 lead but WMU ran off the final five points (three kills for Allyson Doyle) and stole the set 25-22. Mandy Nichols led the 'Cats with four kills in the set.

Western Michigan led the second set 9-5 before Ohio took five of the next six points on two kills by Nichols, aces by Nicole Staverman and Mollie Geske and a dual block by Katie Post and Michelle Jantsch. Trailing 14-12, Nichols again picked up a block and a kill as Ohio rallied for a 16-14 edge. However, six of the next seven went back to the Broncos for a 20-17 advantage. A Jantsch kill cut the deficit to one at 21-20 and after allowing three-straight points, Ohio stayed alive on three set points before a service error allowed WMU to take the second set, 25-23. Nichols and Jantsch led Ohio with three kills and one block apiece in the set.

After the break, the third set started 4-4 but the Broncos took five of the next six for a 9-5 edge. Four points in a row from Post, Nichols and Staverman tied things before WMU re-took a three-point lead at 13-10. The largest deficit for the Green & White was four points and once again, they made things interesting by cutting it to one on yet another Staverman ace at 19-18. However, three more points went the way of the visitors and Ohio could not come up with another rally and fell 25-22 in the third and final set. Nichols had her best set of the night with six kills and finished with 13 on the evening, a match-high.

"I think we've been on this step too long, which is five minutes of good (play), seven minutes of good, two minutes of bad, three minutes of bad that cost you four or five straight points," he said. "I think the next step is playing better for longer"

Ohio's defense did a nice job during the final two sets allowing WMU to hit only .095 and .182 respectively. The 'Cats also picked up 8.0 total team blocks, with Post leading the way with four (two solo, two assists). Hartnett finished with six kills and Jantsch added five. Both players hit .500 for the game. Jacobi reached the 1,000-kill plateau with her fifth of the evening and the senior finished with seven. Jantsch and Meryl Bender each finished with a team-high 11 digs and Jantsch also picked up 27 assists.

First-place Northern Illinois visits the Convo on Saturday night at 7 p.m. It will be Youth Night with free admission for anyone ages 3-18.