Freshman outside hitter Stanislaw Chacinski (7) jumps up to hit the hall during No. Ohio State’s (18-10) game against No. 2 McKendree (20-8) Wednesday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Illinois. The Buckeyes won 3-0 and will advance to the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament Finals. Credit: Ohio State Athletics
Three up, three down — the Buckeyes are headed to the conference championship.
No. 3 Ohio State dominated No. 2 McKendree in straight sets Wednesday night in the semifinal round of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament.
In the win, the Buckeyes used balanced offense and key defensive stands to book a trip to the championship match.
The Bearcats struck first to open the match, jumping out to an early 8-5 advantage.
But the Buckeyes responded with a 13-6 run fueled by outside hitter Stanislaw Chacinski, who notched four kills in the set.
McKendree tried to claw back with a 5-2 burst late, but a costly service error shut the door to give Ohio State a 25-22 win and a 1-0 set lead.
In the second, the teams battled evenly out of the gate.
Ohio State then surged ahead on a 14-5 run, sparked by opposite hitter Shane Wetzel, who helped push the Buckeyes to a commanding 18-9 lead.
Bearcat setter Nathan Flayter momentarily shifted momentum with two kills and powered a 5-1 run, but another service error halted the momentum.
Ohio State closed the set 25-19, pulling within one set of the sweep.
The Buckeyes carried their momentum into the third set, racing out to a 10-5 lead behind strong swings from outside hitter Kyle Teune.
McKendree answered with a short 5-2 run, but the Bearcats offense stalled as they committed four errors across a six-point stretch.
With a 22-16 advantage, the Buckeyes stayed in control, and middle blocker Thomas Leahey sealed the match with a final kill, taking the set 25-19 and completing the sweep.
Ohio State’s offense was led by Wetzel, who posted a match-high 10 kills.
No. 3 Ohio State (18-10, 11-5 MIVA) will face No. 1-seeded Loyola Chicago (24-3, 13-3 MIVA) in the MIVA Tournament final Saturday in Chicago. The match will stream live on Big Ten+.
