FOLLOW OHIO VOLLEYBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Gamebook (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio -- Junior outside hitter/right side hitter Lauren Park (Millersburg, Ohio) piled up a career-high 28 kills, but the Ohio volleyball team (4-4, 4-4 MAC) could not protect a two-set lead and ultimately fell to Ball State (6-5, 6-5 MAC), 3-2 (25-27, 21-25, 25-13, 28-26, 15-11) on Thursday (March 4) at the Convocation Center.

The Bobcats hit .257 for the match, but the Cardinals countered by attacking at a .348 clip. Ohio was hampered by 26 attack errors and 16 service errors. Ball State narrowly outblocked Ohio, 9-8.

"I give credit to Ball State," said head coach Deane Webb. "They were outstanding on offensive tonight. They had four sets where they hit .375 or higher. I would just say they did a great job as hitters getting their feet to the ball. To have 155 swings and only have five unforced errors is tremendous, so I give them a great deal of credit."

Park hit .292 on her career night and led the match in kills.

"I think it was one of the better outside hitter performances that I've seen in this gym in the last seven years," said Webb of Park's big night. It was truly impressive. There were times when she was in the front row attacking that she looked almost unstoppable out there."

Park was one of four Bobcats to log double-digit kills. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) registered 15 kills and hit .407 for the match. She also tied for the team lead with four total blocks (one solo, one assisted). Senior middle blocker Tia Jimerson (Sugar Hill, Ga.) hit .375 with 12 kills and tallied four block assists. Senior opposite hitter Maggie Nedoma (Brook Park, Ohio) finished with 10 kills and added four block assists.

Senior setter Vera Giacomazzi (San Vendemiano, Italy) distributed a match-high 65 assists and posted a double-double with 12 digs. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) led the match with 16 digs while senior libero/defensive specialist Macy Reihing (Lexington, Ky.) recorded 10.

Park set the tone in for the Bobcats in the opening set as Ohio outlasted Ball State, 27-25. The second set saw her add six more to her total while the Cardinals managed just a .088 attack percentage as a team, with the Bobcats coming out on top by four points.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Ball State rallied to force a fifth set. The Cardinals hit .417 in the third set while Ohio registered an attack percentage of just .077 as Ball State rallied to a 13-point victory. In the fourth set, the Bobcats responded with a .349 attack percentage and held match point twice but could not seal the deal as the Cardinals hit .459 and came away victorious, 28-26.

Ohio held a 1-0 advantage in the fifth set after a service error by Ball State but never led again as the Cardinals clinched the match victory with a 15-11 triumph. Ball State hit .375 in the decisive set while holding the Bobcats to a .143 attack percentage.

Ohio will look to bounce back on Friday (March 5) when it plays host to Ball State again. Action is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. ET at the Convo.

#OUOhYeah