The No. 17 Ohio State women’s volleyball team split two home games over the weekend, defeating Iowa Friday and falling to No. 19 Minnesota Saturday.
OSU (19-8, 12-6 Big Ten) began the final home stand of the season by defeating Iowa (14-17, 4-14 Big Ten) despite a subpar effort and poor play throughout.
The Buckeyes took control of game one against Iowa, jumping out to an early 14-5 lead before allowing Iowa to get back in it at 23-22. OSU was able to regain its focus after two Iowa errors and kills from junior outside hitter Felicia Jones and sophomore middle blocker Danielle Meyer, prevailing 30-23.
“Winning the first game was definitely important to have the momentum going into the second game,” Meyer said.
Game two was close in the early going. With the score tied at 14, OSU began to pull away thanks to two kills from junior setter Marisa Main. With a 22-17 lead, OSU went on a 6-1 run to put the game out of reach and set up the 30-25 win.
“We would get a lead and then allow Iowa to come back and that wasn’t very impressive,” coach Jim Stone said. “We were always in front, we were never behind, but I wish we had played a little more consistent.”
The Buckeyes showed a little more life in game three. Leading 9-7, OSU went on a 7-2 run, thanks to two kills from Meyer and two from sophomore middle blocker Nicole Britenriker. A number of errors allowed Iowa to get back into it, tying the game at 26 before a kill by sophomore outside hitter Ami Stevens ended the game 30-27 and the match 3-0.
“We’re at a point in the Big Ten where everyone is beating everyone and fighting to get into the NCAA tournament right now,” Meyer said.
Saturday, OSU honored its three seniors: outside hitter Amanda Miller, defensive specialist Rebecca Kastein and setter Jackie Schardt. Once again the Buckeyes were sluggish, and against a team as talented as No. 19 Minnesota (22-7, 12-6 Big Ten), the effort was not enough.
Minnesota jumped out front from the start of game one and never looked back. With OSU trailing 8-3, Minnesota took control of the game before finishing it out 30-19.
OSU showed a little bit of life in game two and with the score tied at 8, the Buckeyes had a mini-run and took a brief 11-8 lead. The game stayed close and with the score tied at 21, Minnesota scored the next four points and went on the win the game 30-25.
Game three proved that this just was not the Buckeyes’ night. OSU could not get anything going and trailed by as many as nine before losing the game 30-23 and the match 3-0.
“I thought that was our worst match in two months,” Stone said. “We just didn’t show up to play.”
Minnesota might have had payback on their minds as well.
“They came out with a little attitude because we beat them 3-0 in their place,” Kastein said. “They passed well and ran the type of system that they needed to run.”
Not winning on senior night was a bit of a letdown, but the Buckeyes still have a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
“It was hard,” Kastein said. “We have two more matches in the Big Ten and we want to go out winning and we want to go with some momentum into the tournament.”
Although the loss hurt, Stone said that an NCAA tournament appearance is likely.
“I think if we win the last two matches we have a real good shot,” Stone said. “The onus is still on us to win, but it is not a guarantee yet.”
OSU will close out the regular season on the road against Michigan (14-13, 8-10 Big Ten) Friday and Michigan State (12-16, 5-13 Big Ten) Saturday.
