Final Stats

Box Score (HTML)

Scores: Ohio 3, Xavier 2 (24-26, 19-25, 25-18, 27-25, 15-6)
Location: Athens, Ohio
Records: Ohio 5-1, Xavier 2-3

THE BASICS
- After dropping the first two sets, the Bobcats (5-1, 0-0) persevered and defeated Xavier (2-3, 0-0) in five sets 3-2 (24-26, 19-25, 25-18, 27-25, 15-6) on Friday night (Sept. 4) in front of over 4,000 Bobcat fans.
- Senior libero Meredith Ashy (Louisville, Ky.) set a new school record, compiling 43 digs in the match. The previous record was held by Kea Peterson who piled up 38 digs against Western Michigan on Oct. 5, 1991. Ashy moved up in the all-time career digs list, surpassing Stephanie Blackburn’s 1,680 career mark set from 2004-07. Ashy stands at 1,706 career digs.
- Sophomore outside hitter Jaime Kosiorek (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) racked up a season high 20 kills along with a tied season high 14 digs for her second double-double of the 2015 season.
- Senior setter Abby Gilleland (Bull Valley, Ill.) tallied a season high 53 assists and 12 digs, marking her third double-double of the 2015 campaign.
- Senior middle blocker Shelby Walker totaled a season high 15 kills along with 8 digs and 3 total blocks (two solo, one assisted).  
- Senior middle blocker Karin Bull (Bloomington, Minn.) finished with 11 kills, two block assists, and a dig.
- The Bobcats held Xavier to a .114 attack percentage for the match, and aced the Musketeers eight times. Ohio combined for 8.0 team blocks compared to Xavier’s 3.0.
- Xavier’s sophomore outside hitter Kristen Massa totaled a team-high 17 kills. Three separate Musketeers totaled over 20 digs for the match, redshirt freshman Meredith Klare (23; team-high), junior outside hitter Abbey Bessler (22) and redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Humm (20) and combined for 65 of Xavier’s 107 team digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Bobcats opened up the contest leading Xavier 8-3 which forced the Musketeers to take a timeout. Ohio saw their 11-6 lead dissipate after Xavier’s 10-1 run to give themselves a 15-14 lead. While trading points, Xavier saw a four point lead at 23-19, which called for an Ohio timeout. The Musketeers sat on match point 24-21 before Ohio opened up a 4-0 run to inch closer. A kill by Massa and an attack error by Ohio closed the set 26-24.
- Xavier saw control for most of the second set. With Ohio down 10-6 to start the set, second-year head coach Deane Webb took a timeout. Struggling to gain momentum, Ohio fell victim to three Xavier kills and self-mistakes to fall to a 17-12 deficit. The Musketeers put the Bobcats away 25-19 to close the set, and take a commanding 2-0 lead.
- Trading points to start the third set, Ohio and Xavier were tied 9-9 until three kills by Salis, Bull, and Shelby Walker were strung together to take a 12-10 lead. Clinging close to Ohio, the Musketeers cut the Green and White’s lead to one point after a 4-3 run. After their own timeout, Ohio sparked a 5-2 run with multiple kills by Kosiorek, Bull, and Gilleland. Xavier’s timeout had no effect, as the Bobcats grabbed the third set 25-18.
- The fourth set had the fans on the edge of their seats. Ohio hopped in front first 13-10 and later saw a five point lead. Xavier wouldn’t let go, rallying back to tie the set at 22 which made Ohio call a timeout. Kills from Kosiorek and Shelby Walker pushed Ohio to set point 24-23, before a service error from Kosiorek tied the set at 24. Xavier’s Massa grabbed a kill for set point, but had an attack error a play later to keep Ohio alive. Shelby Walker’s kill and Ashy’s ace finished the fourth set 27-25, and tied the match at two sets a piece.
- Ohio dominated the fifth set in front of the raucous home crowd. With an 8-6 lead, Ohio pushed out in front 11-6 after an ace by Ashy and kills from Salis and Kosiorek. Xavier sided out after taking a quick timeout, but redshirt sophomore Ali Lake (Liberty Township, Ohio) put down a crowd pleasing kill to force Xavier into another timeout. Kosiorek’s two kills out of the Xavier timeout handed Ohio the set 15-6, and the match 3-2.

QUOTABLE
“This was a great win for our kids, they learned a lot about themselves. Last year we ended our conference season with the reverse of that. This was an important early season lesson for us, just to know that we can (come back).” â€" second-year head coach Deane Webb.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight marked Ohio’s second consecutive victory and 10th program win over Xavier. The Bobcats now carry a 10-9 record against their in-state rival.
- Record watch: With 1,706 career digs, senior libero Meredith Ashy sits 385 digs behind Michaele Blackburn (2003-06) who holds 2,091 career digs.

WHAT’S NEXT
- Ohio will face a tough Michigan team (4-0, 0-0) tomorrow (Sept. 5) at the Convocation Center at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Bobcats are 0-3 against Michigan all-time, and saw the Wolverines last in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, in which the Green and White fell in five sets.

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