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Box Score (PDF)

DeKALB, Ill. -- The Ohio volleyball team (12-7, 12-7 MAC) swept Northern Illinois (8-14, 8-14 MAC), 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-23), on Saturday afternoon at Victor E. Court. With the win, Ohio clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. 

"Great weekend for our team here at NIU," said head coach Deane Webb. "It is difficult to win at NIU, and earning sweeps on back to back days is impressive. After a great 6-1 finish to regular season, we now turn our sights on the postseason opportunity in front of us."

Ohio attacked at a .366 clip as a team, and was led by senior middle blocker Tia Jimerson (Sugar Hill, Ga.), who had 19 kills on 23 swings and hit an impressive .783 while adding six blocks and an ace. Both sophomore outside hitter Olivia Margolies (Galena, Ohio) and senior opposite Maggie Nedoma (Brook Park, Ohio) each added seven kills. Sophomore opposite Emily Margolies (Galena, Ohio) and redshirt freshman Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) produced five kills each. 

Senior setter Vera Giacomazzi (San Vendemiano, Italy) guided Ohio's offense with 35 assists and added eight digs and three kills. 

"Vera did a great job directing our offense this weekend, leading us to hit .400 last night and .366 today," said Webb. "Tia was almost unbelievably good today. Nineteen kills on 23 attempts, and six blocks in a three-set match."

The Bobcats outdug NIU, 40-28, with freshman libero Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) adding a match-high 11 digs.

"Our team has shown great resiliency this year, and we are playing our best volleyball of the year right now," said Webb. "Several players have stepped into roles they weren't filling two weeks ago, and they have responded to the challenges in front of them."

Ohio is the No. 3 seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament and will face No. 2 Western Michigan at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio on Friday, April 2. 

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