INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Ohio volleyball team (6-3) returned to action Thursday evening, defeating Butler (6-4), 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-20) in the first day of the Bulldog Brawl, inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Overall, the Bobcats outhit the Bulldogs, .189 to .130, while Ohio recorded 48 kills to Butler's 32. Ohio also registered 132 attacks and out-dug Butler, 67-54. Both teams recorded three services aces, while the Bobcats took advantage of five Bulldog service errors.
The first set was a close affair before Ohio took a 9-5 lead. After that, the Ohio offense took control, stretching the lead to 13-9, before Butler cut the Ohio lead to one. The Bobcats then went on a 5-0 run to take a 20-14 lead late in the set, before closing out set one, 25-18.
Set two was just as competitive. After Butler took an 8-3 lead early in the set, the Bobcats battled back, going on a 7-1 run to tie the set at 9-9. Ohio took a three-point lead before extending the lead to 18-13. However, Butler battled back, tying the set at 20-20, with the two teams trading points. With the set knotted at 24-24, the Bobcats were able to go on a two-point run, sealing the second set, 26-24.
The third set saw the Bobcats jump out to a 4-0 lead, before taking an 8-3 lead early on. After Butler cut the Ohio lead to four, Ohio added on, increasing its lead to 15-10. The Bobcats went on to take a 20-13 lead, before Butler attempted to chip away, cutting the Ohio lead to three late in the set. However, Ohio was able to get the final two points, sealing set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
Overall, graduate student outside hitter
Kristy Frank (Kyiv, Ukraine) hit .400 with 14 kills on 30 attacks for a .467 kill percentage. Senior middle blocker
Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.) added 12 kills, while senior outside hitter
Olivia Margolies (Galena, Ohio) added eight kills, nine digs and three services aces.
Junior setter
Tria McLean (Battle Creek, Neb.) registered 35 assists and eight digs, while junior defensive specialist
Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) added 17 digs and five assists. Junior defensive specialist
Maci Watrous (Coppell, Texas) added 14 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist
Karsyn Raines (Albany, Ohio) recorded 12 digs.
The Bobcats are back in action on Friday, Sept. 16 for day two of the Bulldog Brawl when they take on Missouri at Noon ET.
#OUohyeah
