 "Photo: Courtesy of OSU Athletics")
The No. 16 Ohio State women's volleyball team (7-2) began the season with high expectations after the success of last year's team. So far, this year's team has not disappointed.
After reaching the NCAA quarterfinals a season ago, this year's team is looking to have similar results and perhaps even take it a step further.
Early on in the season, coach Jim Stone said OSU has showed great improvement and continued to learn from mistakes.
"We have a lot of improvement to do, but we have improved a lot already," Stone said.
After losing to No. 1 Nebraska and then beating No. 24 Long Beach State, OSU caught fire, winning matches against Cleveland State, East Carolina, Chicago State and Bowling Green. Stone said the offense proved to be a strength of the team in the early going.
"Our offense is better," Stone said. "I think we have several kids who have been effective offensively."
The fast 6-1 start to the season enabled the Buckeyes to garner national attention and a No. 14 ranking, but Stone said that ranking has not changed the coaches' or the team's demeanor.
"We started the season ranked high because we finished fifth in the country last year, but this team has yet to prove themselves," Stone said.
The Buckeyes were put to the test as they hosted the Buckeye Classic Friday and Saturday. OSU did not waste any time, jumping on Pittsburgh early by taking the first two sets 30-19 and 30-24. After stumbling in the third set, OSU bounced back taking the fourth set 30-28 and the match. Junior setter Marisa Main recorded a match-high 54 assists, and sophomore outside hitter Ami Stevens added a match-high 20.5 points.
No. 22 Brigham Young (7-0), a five-set winner over Duke, was the opponent for OSU in the championship match at Centerburg High School. After winning the first two sets, Ohio State stumbled down the stretch, losing the final three sets to fall 3-2. Once again the Buckeyes were led by sophomore middle hitter Danielle Meyer, who recorded a match-high 28 points, and Stevens. Both were named to the All-Tournament Team.
A few players have played pivotal roles for Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to early-season success. Meyer also made the All-Tournament team in the Bowling Green Invitational Sept. 9 -10 and has been a key player in the early going, averaging 6.16 points per game. Junior setter Marisa Main has also been a big contributor so far with 11.85 assists per game, but Stone said that to be a top team in the Big Ten more people will have to step up.
"If we're going to compete and finish in the top half of the Big Ten, we're going to have to have more people involved in the offense so it's not just one or two hitters carrying the team, it's four or five," Stone said.
The Big Ten looms next for OSU. The first opponent on the conference slate is Purdue on Friday night at St. John Arena, followed by Illinois at home Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
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