Nov. 8, 2013

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio â€" The Ohio University volleyball team (21-4, 11-2) picked up another crucial MAC road victory Friday evening after capturing a five-set thriller over Bowling Green (12-13, 8-5) at the Stroh Center.

Two weeks after dispatching of Western Michigan in five sets in Kalamazoo, the ‘Cats again came back from a two sets to one deficit to upend the Falcons in Bowling Green. With the win and Thursday’s Ball State loss, the ‘Cats are now in sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio has now won five-straight matches.

“We needed this. I tell our team that rings are won on the road,” head coach Ryan Theis said. “In the quest for a championship, every win is important. This was a great win because of the relentlessness our team showed.”

The 'Cats completed the comeback in large part to a superior blocking game that held a 7-2 edge over the Falcons over the final two sets. Ohio held a 13-9 edge in blocking for the match.

Freshman outside hitter Katie Horton (Westland, Mich.) notched a career-high 15 kills and added six blocks to lead the Ohio offensive attack. She was one of four Bobcats with double-digit kills on the night.

Sophomore middle blocker Karin Bull (Bloomington, Minn.) chipped in 14 kills, six blocks and hit .370 for Ohio, while junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti (Cary, Ill.) added her team-leading 14th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs. Graduate middle blocker Alexis Pinson (Phoenix, Ariz.) tallied a team-high seven blocks (one solo) and added 12 kills for the ‘Cats.

On the back row, sophomore libero Meredith Ashy (Louisville, Ky.) tallied a team-high 19 digs and added a service ace, while freshman defensive specialist Brooke Coleman (Plano, Texas) had another strong outing with 17 digs.

Sophomore setter Abby Gilleland (Bull Valley, Ill.) notched a match-high 51 assists and added 10 digs, four kills and two service aces for the ‘Cats.

Ohio posted five of the first seven points of the match and led 10-7 in set one after a kill from Pinson. The Bobcats remained in front by three (16-13) on an ace from Gilleland, but BG responded with three of the next four to cut the Ohio lead to one (17-16). From there, Ohio used a 5-1 run to move ahead by five (22-17) and held on to win the first set, 25-20.

The Falcons notched seven of the first 10 points of the second set and led by six at 12-6. BGSU extended its edge to nine at 18-9, before Ohio raced back with an 8-2 run to move back within three (20-17). A block from Pinson and Bull cut the Falcon lead to two (22-20), but Bowling Green notched three of the final four points of the set to take it, 25-21.

Ohio came out strong in set three with six of the first nine points and led 9-6 after a kill from freshman outside hitter/libero Mallory Salis (Oak Lawn, Ill.). BGSU responded with a 5-0 run to build a three-point lead (12-9) and extended its edge to five at 17-12. Ohio cut the lead to four (18-14) on a kill from Gilleland, but Bowling Green rattled off five of the next seven points to go back up by eight (24-16). The Falcons held on to win the set, 25-19.

The two teams played to a 7-7 tie in set four before BG went in front by two at 10-8. Ohio used 5-1 run to grab their first lead of the set (15-14) on an Ashy ace, but the Falcons answered with a 4-1 run to go back up by two (19-17). From there, Ohio stormed back.

A kill from Bull completed a 4-1 run by Ohio and tied the score at 20-20. Then, the ‘Cats went up by one at 24-23 on a kill from Horton. BG came back with two straight to set up match point (25-24), but Ohio closed the set on a 4-1 run to complete the clutch set four victory (28-26).

Ohio raced out of the gate in set five with five of the first six points of the frame. A block from Bull and Pinson gave Ohio an 8-4 lead on the switch, then the ‘Cats stayed in front by three (10-7) on a kill from Bull. The Bobcats set up match point at 14-10 and a block from Horton and Pinson clinched the five-set victory (15-11) for the ‘Cats.

Ohio now wraps up its two-match road swing with a 5 p.m. contest against Miami Saturday at 5 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.

#OhioBobcats