ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio volleyball team (6-8, 1-1 MAC) earned its first conference win of the season with 3-1 victory (25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-10) over Akron (6-7, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday. The Bobcats and Zips split the weekend series, 1-1.
 
Sophomore Anna Kharchynska (Kyiv, Ukraine) was a dominating offensive force for Ohio. Kharchynska led the team with 16 kills, four aces, three blocks and 21.5 points. Another major contributor for Ohio was graduate student Caitlin O'Farrell (Suwanee, Ga.), who recorded 13 kills, three blocks and 15.5 points.
 
In an impressive comeback effort, Ohio claimed the first set of the match, 25-23. The Bobcats faced a strong Akron defense and trailed for majority of the set. Several scoring runs from Ohio shortened Akron's lead and tied the set at 23-23. Two errors by the Zips gave the Bobcats an early 1-0 advantage.
 
It was another close set for the two teams as Akron squeezed out a 26-24 win in the second and evened the score to 1-1.
 
Ohio gained a 2-1 advantage after winning the third set, 25-22. Once again, it was a close competition as both teams recorded 10 kills each. Ohio's winning point came from a powerful kill by O'Farrell.
 
The Bobcats' fourth set was their best of the entire weekend. Ohio dominated both offensively and defensively as the teams secured the match with 25-10 victory. The Bobcats led by at least 10 points for majority of the set, producing success all over the court.
 
The combined defensive efforts of Ohio's blockers and libero aided the team as they claimed their first conference win. Senior Elizabeth Hoerlein (Mason, Ohio), freshman Emily Waddell (Zionsville, Ind.) and freshman Kam Hunt (Sylvania, Ohio) recorded nine of Ohio's 16 blocks. Senior Sam Steele (Omaha, Neb.) tallied three assists, three aces and 18 digs.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action at home as they take on conference opponent, Kent State, on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
 
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