Aug. 29, 2010
Stats | Ohio Volleyball vs. Louisville 
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University volleyball team dropped their first match of the season at Louisville this afternoon, 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 9-15). Seniors Sue Jacobi and Michelle Jantsch were named to the all-tournament team.
Jacobi led the 'Cats once again with 23 kills and snagged her second double-double in a row with 10 digs. Mandy Nichols finished with 13 kills, Jantsch had a match-high 47 kills while Meryl Bender led Ohio with 11 digs.
"I thought we played really hard against a physical team," Head Coach Ryan Theis said. "Had we taken advantage of some opportunities in sets two or three, we'd have been in good position to win. Those little things are what make the difference against a really good team."
Ohio jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the first set and after a Cardinal point, the 'Cats rolled off six-consecutive points for a 13-4 lead. Louisville countered by scoring 16 of the next 23 points to tie the set 20-20. However, Ohio responded by taking five of last eight points and winning the set 25-23. Kills by Nichols, Katie Post and Jacobi closed things out.
The second set started off in competitive fashion with both teams trading points to make it 9-9 early. Ohio then took a small lead, but the set remained tight throughout. U of L gained the lead at 20-19 after a 6-2 run. The Bobcats fought valiantly and tied the set at 22 after a service ace from Post but three straight kills evened the match.
After the break, Louisville jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Ohio roared back and cut the deficit to one at 11-10. However, the Cards responded by pushing the lead back out to six, 18-12. A kill by Jacobi after a setup by Jantsch trimmed the Cardinal lead to 21-19 and forced a timeout from the home team. Despite the momentum shift, Ohio was unable to get any closer and dropped the set, 25-22.
In a must-win set, Ohio went on a 9-4 run to take a 13-9 lead and dominated Louisville by hitting .593. Jacobi had eight kills in the set while Nichols added four and Jantsch picked up three, plus the service ace that evened the match, 2-2.
"We saw glimpses of very good play in sets one and four," Theis said. "I think we learned some things we can do to get out of jams and that should help us moving forward."
Louisville jumped out to a 6-1 advantage in the fifth set but the 'Cats would not go away, scoring six of eight points to bring the deficit back within one. Despite the rally, U of L scored seven of the next nine points and won the final set 15-9.
"Louisville ran a first-class tournament and this was a really good atmosphere here today," Theis said. "I thought this was a really good test for our team against the defending Big East champions and I'm happy for Sue because she played so well in front of the contingent of fans that came to see her play."
Ohio remains on the road as they will head to Springfield, Missouri next weekend for the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational. The Bobcats will play North Carolina, Southeast Missouri State, Texas A&M and host Missouri State.
