PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead in Ohio Athletics

Friday, August 28

Huntington, W. Va.

11 a.m. ET

Bucknell

PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead in Ohio Athletics

8/24/2026 9:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, General, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball

ATHENS, Ohio – Welcome back Bobcats! This week Ohio Soccer is back in Athens for Senior Day, while field hockey opens the season at home, while volleyball heads to Marshall for their opening weekend. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.

VOLLEYBALL
Aug. 28 / Marshall Invitational / vs Bucknell / Huntington, W.Va. / Cam Henderson Center / 11 a.m. ET / Live Stats
Aug. 28 / Marshall Invitational / vs Niagara / Huntington, W.Va. / Cam Henderson Center / 5 p.m. ET / Live Stats
Aug. 29 / Marshall Invitational / vs Marshall / Huntington, W.Va. / Cam Henderson Center / 5 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats

Ohio Volleyball is set to open the 2026 season at the Marshall Invitational on Aug. 28-29 in Huntington, W. Va. inside the Cam Henderson Center. The season begins on Friday, August. 28 with two matchups starting at 11 a.m. when Ohio will take on Bucknell, before returning to action at 5 p.m. ET against Niagara. Ohio concludes the weekend on Saturday, August. 29 at 5 p.m. ET when the Bobcats take on host Marshall. That match can be seen on ESPN+.

The Bobcats concluded the 2025 season with a 14-17 overall and 12-6 conference record. Ohio earned the No. 3 seed in the 2025 MAC Tournament, before falling to host, Bowling Green, in the quarterfinals. Prior to the MAC Tournament, Kenzie Brinkman's interim title was removed, making her the 13^th head coach in Ohio volleyball program history. The team was led by several standouts including 2025 MAC Freshman of the Year, Bailey Blair, and All-MAC First Team honoree, Emily Waddell. In 2025, Ohio averaged 12.92 kills, 11.89 assists, 1.67 aces, 13.72 digs and 1.70 blocks per set. The Bobcats ended the season with a .193 hitting percentage.

The Ohio volleyball team has 12 players returning for the 2026 season. The returning student-athletes include six seniors, three juniors and three sophomores. Among Ohio's returners is the 2025 MAC Freshman of the Year, sophomore Bailey Blair. Blair was vital for the Bobcats' offense during the 2025 season. She earned several accolades including being named to the 2025 All-MAC First Team and MAC All-Freshmen Team. Senior Emily Waddell is another important returner for Ohio this season. The middle blocker was named to the 2025 All-MAC First Team after she helped the Bobcats to several important victories over conference opponents. Other notable returners include seniors Torre Kildow, Gentry Brown, Kendall Hickey and juniors Darbi Ricketts and Sierra Evans.

Bucknell concluded the 2025 season with a 12-14 overall and 9-7 conference record. The Bison averaged 12.11 kills, 11.11 assists, 1.12 aces, 15.08 digs and 1.73 blocks per set. Bucknell ended the season with a .205 team hitting percentage. Last year, Ohio opened the 2025 season against Bucknell, where the Bobcats earned a 3-1, marking Kenzie Brinkman's first victory as head coach.

Niagara concluded the 2025 season with a 12-15 overall and 12-6 conference record. The Purple Eagles averaged 12.0 kills, 11.5 assists, 1.2 aces, 18.2 digs and 1.9 blocks per set. Niagara ended the season with a .172 team hitting percentage.

Marshall concluded the 2025 season with a 15-15 overall and 7-9 conference record. The Thundering Herd averaged 12.01 kills, 11.07 assists, 1.41 aces, 14.27 digs and 1.86 blocks per set. Marshall ended the season with a .208 team hitting percentage.

FIELD HOCKEY
Aug. 28 / vs. Michigan State / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Schedule Poster Giveaway
Aug. 29 / vs. Michigan State vs. Saint Louis / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 1 p.m. ET / Live Stats
Aug. 30 / vs. Saint Louis / Athens, Ohio / Pruitt Field / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide

The Ohio Field Hockey team officially opens the its 75th anniversary season this weekend when the Bobcats host both Michigan State and St. Louis. The weekend begins on Friday, August. 28 when Ohio takes on Michigan State at 1 p.m. ET at Pruitt Field and can be seen on ESPN+. Fans in attendance will receive a free 2026 schedule poster. Michigan State and St. Louis will face off in a neutral site matchup on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. at Pruitt, before Ohio wraps up the weekend on Sunday, August. 30 against St. Louis at 1 p.m. ET. That match will be seen on ESPN+.

This season, the Bobcats return points leader sophomore Tiana Nhamoinesu who finished last season with six goals and one assist for 13 points. Nhamoinesu was also named to 2025 All-MAC Second Team, the All-MAC Freshman Team and was named to NFHCA D1 All-West Region Second Team. Ohio also returns graduate students Gwen Hershberger and Aaliyah Edwards, as well as seniors Natalie LaFleur, Annie Ryan and Emily Beitzel. Ohio welcomes two freshmen in Maddie Hill and Olivia de Jong, as well as transfer goalkeeper Molly Schreiner who joined the Bobcats this past spring after spending the last two seasons at James Madison.

Michigan State is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw the Spartans finish 5-13 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten. The Spartans recorded 30 goals and had a 1.67 goals per game average, while also registering a 11.0 shots per game average, a 0.152 shot percentage and a 0.545 shots on goal percentage. MSU defeated Ohio in last year's season opener in Louisville.

Saint Louis finished 2025 with a 5-10 overall record and a 1-5 mark in A10 play. SLU scored 23 goals for a 1.53 goals per game average, while also registering a 11.9 shots per game average and a 0.128 shot percentage and a 0.615 shots on goal percentage. Saint Louis and Ohio let last year in St. Louis, where the Billikens defeated the Bobcats.

SOCCER
Aug. 30 / vs Mercyhurst / Athens, Ohio / Chessa Field / 1 p.m. ET / YouTube / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Battle of the Halls and Senior Day

This week, Ohio soccer (1-1-0) returns to Athens on Sunday, Aug. 30 to take on Mercyhurst (0-3-0). First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET at Chessa Field. Ohio will celebrate its five seniors, Jaimason Brooker, Anna Burchett, Rylee Mensel, Melia Peer and Kate Robinson, before kickoff.

Ohio is coming off a 0-1-0 week after dropping the match at Northern Kentucky, 3-2. Brooker scored her first goal of the season, while freshman Camille Francis scored her first as a Bobcat. Freshman goalkeeper Ayla Rammel has started both games, allowed four goals and made twelve saves on the season.

Mercyhurst is currently 0-3-0 and is coming of a 6-2 loss against Toledo. Anamari Bosnjak and Sadie Lewis lead the team, each scoring one goal on the season. Goalkeeper Adri Lika has played 180 minutes, allowing five goals with eight saves, while Alyssa Alcorn is coming off a four-save performance and giving up six goals against Toledo. Mercyhurst will travel to play Robert Morris before heading to play Ohio on Sunday,

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