ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio volleyball team (9-7, 9-7 MAC) dropped a 3-2 (25-23, 13-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-6) decision to Western Michigan (14-4, 14-4 MAC) on Saturday (March 20) at the Convocation Center.

The Bobcats bounced back from a 25-23 loss in the opening set with back-to-back 12-point wins to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Unfortunately for Ohio, the Broncos forced a fifth set with another 25-23 win and then posted a decisive 11-point victory in the fifth.

Ohio fell despite hitting .357 for the match. Four Bobcats totaled double-digit kills, with junior outside hitter Mariana Rodrigues (Santana De Parnaiba, Brazil) leading the way with a team-high 20 kills. Senior middle blocker Tia Jimerson (Sugar Hill, Ga.) registered 18 kills and hit .515 for the match. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) totaled 15 kills and attacked at a .462 clip. She also tallied four block assists. Sophomore opposite Olivia Margolies (Galena, Ohio) finished the match with 10 kills. Freshman middle blocker Elizabeth Hoerlein (Mason, Ohio) piled up a match-high seven total blocks (one block solo, six block assists) in additon to six kills.

Senior setter Vera Giacomazzi (San Vendemiano, Italy) dished out a match-high 62 assists, achieved a double-double with 13 digs and totaled three block assists. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) collected a match-high 24 digs.

Ohio closes out the home portion of its 2021 spring regular season schedule when it welcomes Kent State to the Convo for a 6 p.m. ET matchup on Tuesday (March 23).

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