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AKRON, Ohio -- The Ohio volleyball team (2-2, 2-2 MAC) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth set but ultimately fell to host Akron (2-4, 2-4 MAC), 3-2 (15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 14-25, 15-7), Friday (February 5) evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

"Another good night for us on defense. Our offense, on the other hand, gave away too many points through unforced errors," said head coach Deane Webb.

The Bobcats finished their second weekend of Mid-American Conference play with a split. Ohio earned its first road win of the 2021 spring season with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20) victory over the Zips on Thursday (February 4) evening at the JAR.

Redshirt freshman middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) led the Bobcats with 12 kills and hit .471 while senior middle blocker Tia Jimerson (Sugar Hill, Ga.) added 11 kills and five total blocks (three solo, two assists). Senior setter Vera Giacomazzi (San Vendemiano, Italy) registered a match-high 27 assists, recorded a double-double with 11 digs and led Ohio with two service aces. Freshman setter Tria McLean (Battle Creek, Neb.) also tallied double-digit assists with 12. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) compiled a match-high 30 digs. Senior libero/defensive specialist Macy Reihing (Lexington, Ky.) and freshman defensive specialist/libero Maci Watrous (Coppell, Texas) joined Steele and Giacomazzi in totaling double-digit digs with 12 and 11, respectively.

"We've spent a great deal of time on improving our defense over the last two weeks," said Webb. "Our dig numbers are up significantly. Our block isn't where we'd like it to be, but it is moving in the right direction."

The Bobcats hit .231 in the opening set on their way to a 10-point victory over the Zips to take a 1-0 match lead. O'Farrell paced Ohio with five kills while both of Giacomazzi's service aces came in the opening set. 

Akron answered by evening the match with a 13-point win in the second set, then took a 2-1 match lead thanks to a 25-19 triumph in the third. The Zips limited the Bobcats to hitting percentages of .061 and .027, respectively, in the second and third sets to take control of the match.

Ohio extended the evening with an 11-point win in the fourth set. Jimerson hit .571 with five kills and two total blocks (one solo, one assist) while junior outside hitter Mariana Rodrigues (Santana De Parnaiba, Brazil) attacked at .600 rate with six kills and also chipped in a solo block.

The Bobcats hit -.037 in the fifth set, however, and Akron came away with a 15-7 win to clinch the match.

Ohio will be back at the Convocation Center in Athens next weekend when it hosts Buffalo on Thursday (February 11) at 6:30 p.m. ET and Friday (February 12) at 2 p.m. ET.

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