Abigail Miner/The LanternOhio State sophomore setter Betsy Hone sets the ball during the Nov. 8 match with Northwestern. Hone and the rest of the Buckeyes lost their final two matches, both at home, to Indiana and Penn State this weekend.Friday night OSU (12-20 overall, 3-17 Big Ten) played well against Penn State (31-0, 19-0) but still lost in three-straight sets (25-20, 25-12, 30-28). Katie Dull led OSU with a match-high 17 points, including a match-high 16 kills and a solo block.
In set one, OSU trailed Penn State after the set was tied at six. Penn State won the set 25-20 on a Nicole Fawcett kill.
In set two, Penn State used a 15-7 run to win the set 25-12.
In set three, there were 12 ties and four lead changes. OSU forced Penn State into four match points before losing the set 30-28 and the match 3-0.
OSU’s 28 points in set three became the highest number of points scored against Penn State in a single set this season. OSU also became the first team to have set points against Penn State this year.
Penn State out-hit OSU .463 to .253.
Saturday night, OSU closed out the season with a loss to Indiana (17-15, 9-11). It was a night to honor lone Buckeye senior Laura Kastein.
Kastein was unable to compete in her final match as a Buckeye because of a season-ending hand injury suffered earlier in the season. She made an honorary “first serve” of the game, using her off hand.
Head coach Geoff Carlston said Kastein brought a lot of passion and great leadership to the team.
Kastein said it was a “dream come true” to play for OSU.
Kristen Dozier and Dull each recorded a team-high 16 points in the match.
In set one, OSU came out strong, recording two four-point runs in the set and easily winning 25-14. Dull recorded five kills, a block and an ace serve in the set. Dozier added another four kills and two blocks for the set. Kelli Barhorst contributed four blocks of her own.
In set two, OSU held a 15-14 lead in the match before Indiana went on a four-point run to take the lead 15-18. Indiana would be able to hold off OSU and win the set 23-25.
After being tied 14-14 in set three, Indiana went on another three-point run and never lost the lead again, winning the set 20-25.
In set four, Indiana went on a 9-3 run in the middle of the set to hold off the Buckeyes’ late push, and won the set 21-25 and the match 3-1.
“Tip your hat to Indiana, they played well,” Carlston said. “I hope they get in the tournament.”
As for OSU, there will be no NCAA tournament this year, but they are a very young team who gained a lot of experience this season.
“Relative to the rest of the conference, this team has improved more than anybody from first round to second round [of Big Ten play],” Carlston said. “Second round of the Big Ten we have done better against every team except for Michigan.”
Next season, the Buckeyes will be returning nearly all of their players and will look forward to a season with more experienced players.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Carlston said. “[I look forward] to giving our bodies a rest and moving forward.”
Matt Lang can be reached at [email protected].
