Ohio Volleyball Returns Home to Host the 2026 Bobcat Invitational

Friday, September 18

Athens, Ohio

10 a.m. ET

Morgan State

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Ohio Volleyball Returns Home to Host the 2026 Bobcat Invitational

9/17/2026 2:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio volleyball team (4-4, 0-0 MAC) is set to play its first home games of the season as they prepare to host the 2026 Bobcat Invitational presented by AthensOhio.com on Sept. 18-19 in the Convocation Center. The Bobcat Invitational will feature competition against Morgan State, UNC Asheville and Mercyhurst.

2026 Bobcat Invitational Schedule
Friday, Sept. 18:
Ohio vs. Morgan State at 10 AM
UNC Asheville vs. Mercyhurst at 12:30 PM
Mercyhurst vs. Morgan State at 4:30 PM
Ohio vs. UNC Asheville at 7 PM

Saturday, Sept. 19:
UNC Asheville vs. Morgan State at 11 AM
Ohio vs. Mercyhurst at 2 PM

WEEK 4: OPPONENT PREVIEW
Ohio has a 4-4 overall record heading into its 2026 Bobcat Invitational. The Bobcats average 13.64 kills, 12.76 assists, 1.44 aces, 12.24 digs and 1.68 blocks per set. Ohio currently has a .255 team hitting percentage.

Morgan State has a 1-8 overall record heading into the Bobcat Invitational. The Bears average 9.9 kills, 8.6 assists, 1.4 aces, 11.2 digs and 2.1 blocks per set. Morgan State currently has a .136 team hitting percentage.

UNC Asheville has a 10-2 overall record heading into the Bobcat Invitational. The Bulldogs average 12.12 kills, 10.93 assists, 2.98 aces, 12.26 digs and 1.93 blocks per set. UNC Asheville currently has a .203 team hitting percentage.

Mercyhurst has a 3-6 overall record heading into the Bobcat Invitational. The Lakers average 11.4 kills, 10.1 assists, 1.7 aces, 11.8 digs and 1.5 blocks per set. Mercyhurst currently has a .210 team hitting percentage.

TEAM STATISTICAL CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Blair (96.5), Torre Kildow (72.5), Rose Mahin (68.0)
Kills: Bailey Blair (86), Torre Kildow (63), Rose Mahin (59)
Assists: Rowan Kelly (186), Lillie Meinhart (44), Bryn Janke (35)
Aces: Rose Mahin (6), Darbi Ricketts (6), Torre Kildow (5), Bailey Blair (5), Gentry Brown (4)
Digs: Lacy Marx (57), Rose Mahin (53), Rowan Kelly (42)
Blocks: Olivia Gardner (19.0), Emily Waddell (13.0), Rowan Kelly (11.0), Bailey Blair (11.0)

2026 MAC PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
The Ohio volleyball team was selected to finish fourth overall, tied with Bowling Green, in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Monday, Aug. 24. In addition, sophomore Bailey Blair (Louisville, Ky.) and senior Emily Waddell (Carmel, Ind.) were selected to the 2026 Preseason All-MAC Team.

Toledo was selected as the predicted regular season champion, earning 92 points with seven first-place votes. Ball State was picked to finish second with 91 points and three first-place votes. Behind the Cardinals is Western Michigan in third with a total of 78 points. Toledo (6) and Ball State (5) both received champion votes.

Both Ohio and Bowling Green earned 71 points, tying for the fourth-place spot in the poll. The Bobcats, however, was the third time to receive any first-place votes with one.

Ohio's two Preseason All-MAC selections, Blair and Waddell, are standout members in the group of players returning for the Bobcats this season. Both Blair and Waddell are coming off a 2025 season that included several standout performances, especially in conference play.

2025 SEASON RECAP
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. 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 Bobcats finished the 2025 regular season ranked in the top five of several conference statistical categories. Ohio ranked second for aces, aces per set and third for kills per set and assists per set. The team also ranked fourth for points per set, assists and kills.

SEASON & SINGLE GAME TICKETS
Fans can purchase or renew their season tickets here. Single-game tickets are available to purchase here.

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