ATHENS, OH – The Ohio volleyball team (16-8, 10-3 MAC) swept the Huskies (14-9, 7-6 MAC) (25-21, 25-20, 25-22) on Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. The victory extended the Bobcats' match winning streak to six games.
Ohio outhit Northern Illinois .252 to .123 with 53 kills compared to the Huskies 32. The Bobcats also recorded more digs with 64 compared to 51.
A competitive tone was established right at the start of set one, with 12 ties and six lead changes. Ohio fell behind early, but an 8-3 run tied the set back up. The Huskies were able to grab a lead, but the Bobcats sparked a 10-4 point run to win set one, 25-21.
Set two started out with a quick 6-1 run in favor of the Bobcats. Ohio was able to grow its lead up to seven, forcing the Huskies to call a timeout and regather. Despite Northern Illinois going on an 8-1 run, the Bobcats were able to score five of the last six points, taking set two 25-20.
The third set was another back-and-forth battle with neither team able to grow their lead. The Bobcats were able to go on a late 7-2 run, which earned them a two-point lead and forced Northern Illinois to take a timeout. The Huskies cut the lead down to two, but Ohio was ready to end the match by taking the last two points, winning the set 25-22.
The Bobcats were led by graduate opposite hitter Kristy Frank (Kyiv, Ukraine) and her match high 11 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Clippard (Cincinnati, Ohio) followed, recording 10 kills. Middle blockers Elizabeth Hoerlein (Mason, Ohio) and Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) also had impressive performances, hitting .700 and .333 with eight and nine kills. Meanwhile, freshman opposite hitter Anna Kharchynska (Kyiv, Ukraine) registered nine kills while hitting .467 and matched O'Farrell in block assists with three.
Setter Parker Kwiatkowski (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Tria McLean (Battle Creek, Neb.) combined for 42 assists, with Kwiatkowksi achieving a double-double with 10 digs. Junior libero Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) led the game in digs with 18, while junior defensive specialist Maci Watrous (Coppell, Texas) and senior outside hitter Olivia Margolies (Galena, Ohio) had 12 and 11.
Up next, the Bobcats travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets at 6:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 4.
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