No. 19 Women’s Volleyball Travels to No. 3 Penn State Wednesday and Plays at Indiana Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2005
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 19th-ranked Ohio State (15-6 overall, 8-4 Big Ten) women’s volleyball has road matches this week at No. 3 Penn State (21-1, 12-0) and at Indiana (9-15, 2-10). The Buckeyes face Penn State Wednesday in a match that will be broadcast live by College Sports Television (CSTV) at 8 p.m. Jason Knapp and Krista Blunk will call the action. Ohio State will then play at Indiana Saturday at 7 p.m. Last week the Buckeyes defeated Northwestern (31-33, 30-28, 30-25, 30-20) and lost to No. 11 Wisconsin, 0-3 (24-30, 28-30, 24-30) in home matches.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are coached by Jim Stone, the 2004 Big Ten and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Mideast Region Coach of the Year. Ohio State is 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes defeated Northwestern, 3-1 and lost to No. 11 Wisconsin, 0-3 in home matches. Danielle Meyer (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) leads the Buckeyes in kills per game with a 4.92 per game average. Ami Stevens (So., Centerburg, Ohio) ranks second at 3.58. Setter Marisa Main (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) is the top percentage hitter at .373 with Meyer second at .293. Main has a 12.68 assist per game average. Ashley Kiel (Jr., Allenton, Wis.) has a team-high 31 ace serves (.40 per game) with Meyer second with 25 (.32). Defensively, Stevens has a team-high 3.03 digs per game average with Meyer second at 2.45. At the net, Meyer is averaging a team-leading .95 blocks per game with 10 solos and 64 assists. Nicole Britenriker (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) ranks second in blocking with a .79 average on four solos and 58 assists. The Buckeyes are averaging 16.86 kills and 15.30 assists and are hitting .260. OSU averages 1.48 aces, 15.09 digs and 1.95 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.71 kills and 12.13 assists and are hitting .221. They average .96 aces, 12.65 digs and 2.60 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT PENN STATE
The third-ranked Nittany Lions are coached by Russ Rose. Penn State is 21-2 overall and is 12-0 in the Big Ten. They have won 15 straight matches. Last week the Nittany Lions defeated No. 11 Wisconsin 3-1 (27-30, 30-16, 30-22, 30-21) and Northwestern, 3-0 (30-24, 30-23, 30-21). Nicole Fawcett has a team-high 4.43 kills per game average with Christa Harmotto second at 2.99. Melissa Walbridge is the top percentage hitter on the squad at .388. Setter Sam Tortorello has a 13.49 assist per game average. Tortorello has a team-high 20 ace serves (.26) with Walbridge second with 17 (.23). On defense, Kaleena Walters has a team-high 4.88 digs per game average with Tortorello second at 2.64. At the net, Harmotto has a team-high 1.49 blocks per game average with 17 solos and 98 assists. Walbridge ranks second at 1.27 with 12 solos and 81 assists. Penn State is averaging 16.47 kills and 15.23 assists while hitting .296. The Nittany Lions average 1.26 aces, 15.92 digs and 3.42 blocks per game. Opponents average 12.87 kills and 12.19 assists and are hitting .129. Penn State opponents average .74 aces, 14.01 digs and 2.23 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE-PENN STATE SERIES
Penn State has a 26-13 lead in the series with Ohio State. At University Park the Nittany Lions are 12-5. The Buckeye won the last match at Penn State, 3-2 (30-25, 22-30, 30-26, 26-30, 15-11). Penn State has won the last two meetings with Ohio State. In 2004 Penn State won 3-1 (30-28, 22-30, 30-19, 30-28) and in 2005 the Nittany Lions won 3-0 (30-18, 30-24, 30-24).
THE LAST TIME AGAINST PENN STATE (Sept. 28, 2005)
The 18th-ranked Ohio State women’s volleyball team fell to fourth-ranked Penn State, 3-0 (30-18, 30-24, 30-24) Wednesday night in front of 1,038 fans in St. John Arena. Penn State had five student-athletes record double-figure points with Christa Harmotto recording a match-high 13 for the Nittany Lions with nine kills (.286), two solo and four assist blocks. OSU’s Ami Stevens scored a team-high 9.5 points for the Buckeyes with eight kills, an ace serve and an assist block.
From a nine-all tie in game one, a Kate Price kill and a Harmotto solo block put Penn State in the lead, 11-9. At 16-14, the Nittany Lions out scored OSU eight-to-one to open a 24-15 lead. The run included four kills from Cassy Salyer, with single kills from Melissa Walbridge and Nicole Fawcett. Penn State held the lead and closed out the game at 30-18 with a Kaleena Walters ace serve. The Nittany Lions hit .244 for the game to .125 for OSU.
Penn State held a 3-1 lead in game two before kills from Stevens and Ashley Kiel and two Nittany Lion errors gave the Buckeyes a 5-3 lead. Penn State, with two kills from Fawcett, a Walbridge-Sam Tortorello block and two OSU errors, regained the lead at 8-5. The Nittany Lions built an eight-point lead at 21-13 and with a Fawcett kill and a Harmotto solo block won the game, 30-24. Penn State hit .485 for the game to .343 for OSU.
Tied at eight in game three, a Buckeye block by Stevens and Marisa Main put OSU ahead, 9-8. Penn State responded with six consecutive points including kills from Walbridge and Salyer, a Walbridge-Salyer block and three OSU errors to take a 14-9 lead. OSU closed to within two at 16-14 but a four-point Penn State run opened a 20-14 Nittany Lion lead. The Nittany Lions reached match point at 29-21 with a Harmotto kill. The Buckeyes stopped three match points with a block by Felicia Jones and Nicole Britenriker, a Britenriker ace serve and an Amanda Miller kill. An OSU service error ended the game at 30-24 for Penn State for a 3-0 Nittany Lion victory. Penn State hit .167 for the game to .093 for the Buckeyes.
For the match, Penn State hit .284 to OSU’s .186. The Nittany Lions had a 52-39 advantage in kills while OSU had a four to two edge in ace serves. The Buckeyes gave up 10 service errors to four for Penn State. Defensively, each squad recorded 37 digs with PSU’s Walters recording a match-high 16. At the net, the Nittany Lions had an 11.5 to five advantage in team blocks with Harmotto collecting a match-high six total blocks with two solos and four assists. PSU setter Tortorello posted 43 assists in the match while OSU’s Main had 33.
A LOOK AT INDIANA
The Hoosiers are coached by Katie Weismiller. Indiana is 9-15 overall and 2-10 in the Big Ten. Last week they lost 2-3 (28-30, 23-30, 30-23, 30-26, 7-15) at Iowa and 0-3 (21-30, 20-30, 18-30) at No. 18 Minnesota. Erica Short has a team-high 3.56 kills per game average with Rachel Gerling second at 3.13. The top percentage hitter on the squad is Annie Moddrell at .306. Setter Laura Holm has a 10.45 assist per game average. Gerling leads the team in ace serves with 48 (.54 per game) with Short second with 18 (.20). Defensively, Gerling has a team-high 2.97 digs per game average with Sara Diehl second at 2.90. At the net, Mandy Eberle has a team-high 1.36 blocks per game average with 13 solos and 108 assists. Moddrell ranks second in blocking at 1.31 with six solos and 83 assists. Indiana is averaging 13.87 kills and 12.62 assists while hitting .195. The Hoosiers average 1.53 aces, 13.65 digs and 2.97 blocks per game. Opponents average 15.69 kills and 14.29 assists while hitting .223. Indiana opponents average 1.38 aces, 15.01 digs and 2.20 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE-INDIANA SERIES
Ohio State leads the series with Indiana, 35-22. Indiana has a 13-11 advantage in matches played in Bloomington. The Buckeyes have won the last three contests with the Hoosiers. Ohio State won 3-1 (30-22, 30-20, 27-30, 30-19) in Bloomington in 2004 and won 3-0 (30-20, 30-20, 30-20) in Columbus that year. Earlier this season in Columbus, the Buckeyes won 3-0 (30-26, 30-20, 30-22).
THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANA (Sept. 30, 2005)
No. 18 Ohio State women’s volleyball team defeated Indiana, 3-0 (30-26, 30-20, 30-22) Friday night in front of 1,130 fans in St. John Arena. OSU’s Danielle Meyer scored a match-high 18.5 points with Ami Stevens and Nicole Britenriker adding 14.5 each. Meyer had a match-high 14 kills (.292), adding three ace serve, a solo block and an assist block. Stevens had 12 kills, an ace serve, a solo block and an assist block while Britenriker collected 13 kills (.435) and three assist blocks. IU’s Rachel Gerling had a team-high 13.5 points with Erica Short adding 11 and Mandy Eberle 10.5. Gerling had eight kills, an ace serve, a solo block and seven assist blocks in the match. Short had a team-high 11 kills and Eberle collected seven kills, a solo block and five assist blocks.
Tied at 13 in game one, two kills from Amanda Miller and a solo block by Stevens opened a 16-13 Buckeye lead. OSU expanded the lead to five at 24-19, but a four-point Hoosier run with kills from Lauren Ditteon, Gerling, and Eberle and a block by Eberle and Gerling cut the Ohio State lead to 24-23. At 27-26, Buckeyes, a kill by Stevens and a solo block from Ashley Kiel set game point at 29-26. A Meyer kill ended the game at 30-26. Ohio State hit .378 in the game to .267 for Indiana.
Ohio State broke a two-all tie in game two with six consecutive points to take an 8-2 lead. The run featured three kills from Meyer, two from Stevens and an Indiana error. At 16-10, a Hoosier error, two ace serves from Stevens and a Marisa Main kill took the lead to 10 at 20-10. At 22-13, kills from Stevens, Britenriker and Kiel and a Stevens’s ace pushed the lead to 26-13. At 29-18, a kill from Short and an Annie Moddrell-Gerling block cut the margin to 29-20 but an IU service error ended the game at 30-20. For the game, Ohio State hit .281 to .276 for Indiana.
Ohio State held a 5-3 lead in game three before a Moddrell kill and blocks from Eberle-Gerling and Eberle-Gabrielle Allison gave Indiana a 6-5 lead. Errors by both teams made it 8-7, IU. OSU tied the game at eight with a Meyer kill, took a 9-8 lead with a Main kill and opened an 11-8 margin with two ace serves from Brittany Dahms. With an 8-4 run, Ohio State took the lead to 19-12. At 21-14, OSU, a Buckeye error, an ace serve from Gerling and an Eberle-Allison block cut the lead to four at 21-17. At 23-19, a Miller kill and two Indiana errors made it 26-19. The Buckeyes reached match point at 29-22 with a Stevens kill and an IU error ended the game at 30-22 for a 3-0 Ohio State win in the match. The Buckeyes hit .053 for the game to -.081 for Indiana.
For the match, Ohio State hit .243 to .153 for Indiana. The Buckeyes had a 51-39 advantage in kills and a seven-to-two margin in ace serves with Meyer collecting a match-high three. The Hoosiers gave up eight service errors to four for OSU. Defensively, the Buckeyes had a 40-31 advantage in digs with OSU’s Main and Meyer sharing match-high honors with eight each. At the net, Indiana had a 12 to 9.5 edge in team blocks with IU’s Gerling collecting a match-high eight total blocks on a solo and seven assists. Main recorded a match-high 40 assists at setter while Laura Holm had 33 for Indiana.
LAST WEEK AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
No. 19 Ohio State women’s volleyball team defeated Northwestern, 3-1 (31-33, 30-28, 30-25, 30-20) Friday night in St. John Arena. OSU’s Danielle Meyer scored a match-high 17.5 points with Amanda Miller adding 17. Meyer had 14 kills, two ace serves and three assist blocks while Miller recorded a match-high 15 kills and two ace serves. Buckeye setter Marisa Main had her fourth consecutive triple double (12 kills, 42 assists, 15 digs) in the match. Northwestern’s Brittney Aldridge produced a team-high 15 points for the Wildcats with Courtnie Paulus and Julie Purcell adding 12.5 each. Aldridge recorded a team-high 14 kills and four assist blocks in the contest. Paulus had 10 kills, an ace serve, a solo block and an assist block while Purcell had 12 kills and an assist block.
Northwestern opened game one with the first four points from an OSU error and three kills from Lindsay Anderson. The Wildcats took the lead to nine at 27-18 before Ohio State scored nine consecutive points to tie the game. An OSU error made it 28-27 Wildcats but a kill from Ami Stevens and a Main-Stevens block gave Ohio State a 29-28 lead, serving game point. Northwestern, with a kill from Chelsy Hyser and a Buckeye error took a 30-29 lead, serving game point. A Stevens’ kill tied the game at 30. Northwestern took a 31-30 lead with a Purcell kill and served its second game point. Another Stevens’ kill tied the game at 31. An OSU error made it 32-31 for Northwestern’s third game point and with an Aldridge kill won the game, 33-31. The Wildcats hit .220 for the game to .364 for Ohio State.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in game two with a Purcell kill. OSU, with three kills from Meyer, one from Miller and a Wildcat error opened a 5-1 lead. With Ohio State leading, 12-8, Northwestern had a 6-0 run to take a 14-12 lead. The run contained kills from Paulus and Aldridge, a Paulus solo block and three OSU errors. Northwestern held a 22-19 lead before kills by Nicole Britenriker and Miller and a Stevens’ ace serve tied the game at 22. Tied at 23, Northwestern took a 25-23 lead with an OSU error and an Aldridge kill. A Wildcat error and an Ashley Kiel ace serve tied the game at 25. Northwestern, with a Paulus kill took a 26-25 lead. OSU tied the game at 26 with a kill from Meyer. A Meyer-Main block and a Meyer-Stevens block gave Ohio State a 28-26 lead. An OSU error made it 28-27. A Northwestern service error made it 29-27 with OSU serving game point. Northwestern stopped the game point with a Lindsay Anderson kill at 29-28 but a Main kill ended the game at 30-28 for Ohio State, tying the match at one game each. Ohio State hit .227 for the game to .204 for Northwestern.
Tied at five in game three, two Northwestern errors and an ace serve by OSU’s Meyer put the Buckeyes ahead, 8-5. Northwestern responded with four points to take a 9-8 lead. An OSU error, an Aldridge kill and blocks by Purcell-Aldridge and Stephanie Jurivich-Aldridge completed the run. Ohio State then scored the next five points with kills from Main and Stevens and three Northwestern errors to take a 13-9 lead. At 23-20, kills from Miller and Main and a Kiel ace serve with a Wildcat error pushed the OSU lead to 27-20. Northwestern kills from Hyser and Stefanie Alde and a Buckeye error cut the lead to 27-23. Miller’s kill made it 28-23 but an Alde kill kept the lead at four at 28-24. A Wildcat service error set game point for Ohio State at 29-24. Northwestern stopped the attempt with a Hyser kill at 29-25, but a Northwestern service error ended the game at 30-25. The Buckeyes hit .296 in the game to .135 for Northwestern.
With a Main kill, a Wildcat error and an ace serve from Miller, Ohio State took a 3-0 lead in game four. Northwestern, with kills from Cassie McLaughlin and Aldridge cut the lead to 3-2. Ohio State made it 6-2 with a kill and ace serve from Meyer and a Wildcat error. At 18-14, OSU, a Miller kill and an ace serve from Kiel opened up a 20-14 Buckeye lead. At 21-16, a solo block from Stevens and a Britenriker kill made it 23-16. At 25-20, a Britenriker kill made it 26-20 and then Miller scored the final four points of the match off kills to end the game at 30-20 for Ohio State. The Buckeyes hit .371 in the game to .186 for Northwestern
For the match, Ohio State hit .309 to .190 for Northwestern. The Buckeyes had a 63-60 advantage in kills and a 10-4 margin in ace serves with OSU’s Kiel recording a match-high four. The Wildcats gave up 19 service error to 11 for Ohio State. Defensively, the Buckeyes had an 81-44 advantage in digs with OSU’s Main recording a match-high 15. At the net, Northwestern edged Ohio State in team blocks, seven to six. OSU’s Stevens’ (1-3) and Northwestern’s Aldridge (0-4) shared match-high honors with four total blocks each. OSU’s Main recorded a match-high 42 assists while Lauren Geenwood had 33 and Jurivich collected 18 for Northwestern.
LAST WEEK AGAINST WISCONSIN
No.19 Ohio State women’s volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (30-24, 30-28, 30-24) decision to No. 11 Wisconsin Saturday night in St. John Arena. Buckeye Danielle Meyer shared match-high point honors with Wisconsin’s Sheila Shaw with 15.5 each. Meyer had 15 kills and an assist block while Shaw posted 11 kills, two ace serves, a solo block and three assist blocks. OSU’s Nicole Britenriker had 14.5 points (12 kills, five assist blocks) while Ami Stevens added 13 points (11 kills, one ace serve, two assist blocks) for the Buckeyes. Badger Audra Jeffers contributed 12 points with 11 kills and a solo block for Wisconsin.
After a Shaw kill opened game one, Ohio State took a 5-1 lead with a Meyer kill, two from Stevens, a Marisa Main-Britenriker block and a Badger error. Trailing 10-6, Wisconsin tied the game at 10 with a Taylor Reineke kill, two OSU errors and a Shaw-Jackie Simpson block. Tied at 16, a Simpson kill and a solo block from Maria Carlini put Wisconsin ahead, 18-16. The Badgers reached game point at 29-23 off a Buckeye error. A Meyer kill stopped game point at 29-24 but an OSU error ended the game at 30-24. Wisconsin hit .256 in the game to .000 for Ohio State.
Ohio State again took an early lead in game two, scoring the first five points. Two Main kills, one from Stevens and two Wisconsin errors made it 5-0. The Buckeyes took the lead to eight at 11-3. Ohio State held a 24-21 lead when a Jeffers kill, a Shaw ace serve and an OSU error tied the game at 24. At 25-all, an Aubrey Meierotto kill gave Wisconsin a 26-25 lead. Two Buckeye errors made the Wisconsin lead three at 28-25. Kills from Britenriker and Amanda Miller cut the lead to one at 28-27. A Meierotto kill set game point at 29-27. A Miller kill stopped the game point at 29-28 but a Reineke kill ended the game at 30-28. Wisconsin hit .308 in the game to .354 for the Buckeyes.
Tied at seven in game three, a Reineke kill and an OSU error gave Wisconsin a 9-7 lead. Trailing by four at 14-10, two kills from Stevens and one from Meyer cut the lead to 14-13. A Buckeye error made it 15-13. OSU tied the game at 15 with a kill from Stevens and a Badger error. A kill by Jeffers put Wisconsin ahead, 16-15. The Badgers would hold the lead and win the game on an OSU error at 30-24 to sweep the match. Wisconsin hit .271 for the game to .214 for the Buckeyes.
For the match, Wisconsin hit .278 to OSU’s .198. The Buckeyes had a 54-50 advantage in kills while Wisconsin held a five to two edge in ace serves. Ohio State gave up five service error to four for the Badgers. At the net, Ohio State held a 52-41 advantage in digs with Wisconsin’s Jocelyn Wack recording a match-high 14. At the net, the Badgers had an 11 to six margin in team blocks. Wisconsin’s Simpson collected a match-high six assist blocks. Simpson also recorded a match-high 44 assists while OSU’s Main had 42.
MAIN ADDS ANOTHER TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Marisa Main picked up her fourth consecutive triple-double against Northwestern last week. She had 12 kills (.786), 42 assists and 15 digs in the match and added two assist blocks. It was her fifth triple-double of the season and the eighth of her career. Her .786 hitting percentage against the Wildcats equaled her season high set against Michigan. Against Wisconsin Main had six kills (.455), 42 assists, seven digs and an assist block.
BRITENRIKER RECORDS HER 10TH DOUBLE-FIGURE KILL MATCH
Nicole Britenriker, with 12 kills against Wisconsin recorded her 10th double-figure kill match of the season. She hit .474 against the Badgers, adding eight digs and five assist blocks. Against Northwestern she had eight kills, nine digs, an assist block and one ace serve. Britenriker is third on the team in kills per game at 2.69 and ranks second in blocking at .79 per game.
STEVENS TOPS OSU IN DIGS PER GAME
Ami Stevens is the Ohio State team leader in digs per game with a 3.03 average. She has recorded a team-high 209 digs this season. She had 14 digs, 11 kills, an ace serve, a solo block and three assist blocks against Northwestern and added 11 digs, 11 kills, two assist blocks and an ace serve against Wisconsin. Her four total blocks against Northwestern equaled her career high set twice, the last time at Penn State in 2004. Stevens has had double-figure kills and digs in her last three matches.
MEYER NOW 21ST IN CAREER TOTAL BLOCKS WITH 205
Danielle Meyer recorded four total blocks last week to give her 205 for her career and has moved to 21st on the OSU career list. She has 20 solos and 185 assists. Meyer passed teammate Briana McCarthy (2003-) with 204 (27-177). She stands one block behind Lisa Vitali (1986-89) and Laura Davis (1991-94) at 206 for 19th. Meyer had 14 kills (.324), 11 digs, three assist blocks and two aces against Northwestern and recorded 15 kills, 10 digs and an assist block against Wisconsin. Meyer has had nine straight matches with double-figure kills.
MILLER RECORDS A SEASON-HIGH 15 KILLS AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
Amanda Miller had a season-high 15 kills last week against Northwestern. Her previous high this season was 14 against Michigan State. She added four digs and two ace serves in the match and had 17 points in the match for a season high. Miller had six kills, two digs and an assist block against Wisconsin.
KIEL ACES NORTHWESTERN FOUR TIMES
Ashley Kiel had a match-high four ace serves last week against Northwestern. It was the ninth match this season with four or more aces. Kiel added three kills, 11 digs and an assist block in the match. Against Wisconsin she had four kills, nine digs and two assist blocks.
DAHMS HAS 11 DIGS AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
Brittany Dahms recorded 11 digs last week against Northwestern and had four in the Wisconsin match. Her 11 digs against the Wildcats is the sixth match this season with double-figure digs. Dahms has 160 digs on the season for a 2.13 per game average. She is one of five Buckeyes that average two or more digs per game. Dahms has had 14 starts at libero and two at defensive specialist this season.
OHIO STATE IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE STATISTICS
Five Buckeyes are ranked in the conference only Big Ten statistics released by the Big Ten Conference. Danielle Meyer ranks third in kills per game with a 4.57 average with Ami Stevens 10th at 3.43. Marisa Main is ranked third in hitting percentage at .392 with Nicole Britenriker sixth at .373. Main ranks second in assists per game with a 13.32 average. In service aces per game, Meyer is sixth at .34 per game with Ashley Kiel tied for eighth at .32. In team statistics, the Buckeyes rank first in kills (17.07) and aces (1.58) per game. OSU is second in hitting percentage (.275) and third in assists (15.53). Ohio State is seventh in digs (14.93) and 10th in blocks (2.08) per game.
OSU 19TH IN CSTV/AVCA COACHES POLL
The CSTV (College Sports Television/AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll released this week by the AVCA has Ohio State ranked 19th nationally for the second consecutive week. The Buckeyes received 451 points. The Buckeyes had 499 points last week and were ranked 19th. OSU finished the 2004 season with a 30-4 overall record and was ranked sixth in the final 2004 poll. The Buckeyes are one of five Big Ten squads ranked in the top-20 of the poll. Others include Penn State at third, Wisconsin 10th, Purdue 15th and Minnesota 17th.
HEAD COACH Jim Stone
Jim Stone is in his 24th season at Ohio State. He has a 485-266 record with the Buckeyes and is 270-154 in Big Ten play. His squads have won Big Ten Championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994 and finished tied for second in 2004 being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. He was the 1991 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1989, 1991, 1994 and 2004. Under Stone, Ohio State has participated in the NCAA championship in 13 of the last 16 years, advancing to the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994. Stone’s coaching career record includes three years at Wyoming (1979-1981). His 26-year career record is 535-308.
MAIN NAMED THE SPORTS IMPORTS/AVCA DIVISION I NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK, Oct. 24, 2004
Marisa Main has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week. Main earned her second-consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week honor and her first National Player of the week as she posted back-to-back triple-doubles in wins at No. 12 Minnesota and Iowa last weekend. She had 12 kills, 37 assists and 13 digs in an upset sweep at Minnesota and 10 kills, 60 assists and 10 digs in a 3-1 victory at Iowa. Main, who has now posted three straight triple-doubles, has four this season and seven in her career. Running the offense, Main had three players with double-figure kills at Minnesota and five at Iowa. For the two matches, she had a .858 percentage in her assists with 97 of 113 leading to kills. She was 37 of 45 (.822) against Minnesota and 60 of 68 (.882) at Iowa. Main’s 97 assists on the weekend gives her 2,690 in her two-year career at Ohio State and has moved to sixth on the OSU career list passing Marlene O’Brien (1983-86) with 2,621.
BRITENRIKER NAMED BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK, Oct. 24, 2004
Nicole Britenriker earned her first-ever Defensive Player of the Week award and is the first Buckeye to ever earn the Defensive award, which was implemented this season. Last weekend, the OSU sophomore had nine kills, five assist blocks, and career-highs of six assists and 11 digs in a 3-0 upset at Minnesota. The following night, she had 17 kills while hitting a career-high .609 (17 kills, 3 errors, 23 attempts) at Iowa, adding five assists blocks while setting a new career-high of 14 digs. Britenriker also posted her first career double-figure dig matches in back-to-back contests.
For the weekend, Britenriker averaged 3.71 kills and hit at a .413 clip. Her 25 combined digs and 3.57 per game average were both Buckeye team-highs. Her 10 assist blocks on the weekend for a 1.43 per game average was good for second on the squad.
MAIN NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK, Oct. 17, 2004
Setter Marisa Main was named the Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week by the Big Ten Conference office Monday. She directed the Buckeye offense to a 3-1 (26-30, 30-18, 30-18, 30-14) win over Michigan State Friday and a 3-0 (30-27, 30-27, 32-30) victory over Michigan Saturday in home matches.
Main had seven kills and 56 assists against Michigan State Friday. She added an ace serve, three digs and equaled her season-high of four total blocks (one solo and three assists) against the Spartans. She produced her second triple-double of the season against Michigan with 11 kills, 47 assists and 10 digs. She added two assists against the Wolverines and hit a season-high .786 with 11 kills in 14 attempts with no errors. Main previously recorded a triple-double this season at Cleveland State when she had 14 kills, 54 assists and 14 digs against the Vikings. She also had three as a freshman at Xavier.
For the two matches, Main was the Buckeyes’ top hitter at .500 (18-3-30) and totaled 103 assists for an average of 14.71 per game. She ran a balanced offense for Ohio State by having four players with double-figure kills against both Michigan and Michigan State.
In Big Ten Conference statistics for league matches, Main ranks second in assists per game at 13.50 and is sixth in hitting percentage at .368
BUCKEYES HAVE FOUR TELEVISED MATCHES
Ohio State is scheduled to appear in four televised matches this season. The Buckeyes will appear twice in the eight regional broadcasts scheduled by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. OSU will host Purdue Friday, Sept. 23 in a match that will be delayed telecast Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. Ohio State’s Friday, Oct. 21 match at Minnesota will be delayed telecast Saturday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes have two additional televised matches this season. OSU will host Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 29 in match with will be delayed telecast by ESPN2 Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. ET and will play at Penn State, at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2 in a live CSTV (College Sports Television) broadcast.
MAIN AND STEVENS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
The Big Ten Conference announced that Ohio State setter Marisa Main (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) and outside hitter Ami Stevens (So., Centerburg, Ohio) have been named to the 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team by a vote of the conference coaches. The Buckeyes were picked to finish fourth in the coaches’ preseason poll. Penn State was picked to finish first with Minnesota second and Wisconsin third.
JOBST AND DIPRONIO JOIN THE OSU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Outside hitter Gabriele Jobst (1991-94) and setter Audrey DiPronio (1988-90) were inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall Of Fame, Friday, Sept. 16 and were honored at halftime of the Ohio State-San Diego State football game on Saturday, Sept. 17. Previous women’s volleyball players in the Hall of Fame include Karen Alsbrook (1977-79), Lisa Bettio (1982-85), Laura Davis (1991-94), Holly O’Leary (1987-90), Mary Ormsby (1977-80) Vanessa Wouters (1996-97) and Leisa Wissler (1988-91).
STEVENS SPENDS THE SUMMER WITH US JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM
Outside hitter Ami Stevens was selected to the 12-player United State Junior National Team that traveled to Turkey to play in the FIVB Junior Women’s U-20 Volleyball World Championship, July 23-28. The squad finished 1-4 in pool play. She had been in training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. since July 8. Stevens was also selected to the team in 2004.
MEET THE BUCKEYES
#1 Rebecca Kastein (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-8, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) – 2005 played in 17 matches, starting five matches as a defensive specialist and four at libero – season-high 13 digs at Cleveland State 2004 started 22 matches at libero and three at defensive specialist in 2004 – averaged 3.27 digs per game with 18 matches with double-figure digs – career-high 29 digs at Minnesota in the NCAA Regional Championship match.
#2 Brittany Dahms (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, So., Bryon, Ill.) – 2005 played in 21 matches with two starts at defensive specialist and 16 at libero – season-high 25 digs at Cleveland State 2004 started seven matches at libero and three as a defensive specialist – averaged 2.23 digs per game with a career-high 19 against Michigan – double-figure digs in 10 matches.
#3 Anna Tengnas (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, Jr., Hyletbruk, Sweden) – 2005 has played in eight matches 2004 played in 16 matches with three starts at libero – averaged 1.43 digs per game in 2004 with a season-high of nine against Dayton and North Carolina.
#4 Megan Blake (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-3, Jr., West Jefferson, Ohio) – 2005 played in one match 2004 did not play – named to the 2005 Buckeye Power Club for strength and conditioning.
#5 Nicole Britenriker (Middle blocker, 5-11, So., Cincinnati, Ohio) – 2005 played in 21 matches with 16 starts – career-high 18 kills against Illinois – career-high .609 hitting percentage at Iowa – career-high 14 digs against Iowa – career-high seven assist blocks at Northwestern – 10 matches with double-figure kills and two double-figure dig matches – named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her play at No. 12 Wisconsin and at Iowa 2004 played in 22 matches with one start – USA National experience includes the Youth National Team in 2001 and 2003 and the Junior National Team in 2004.
#6 Danielle Meyer (Middle Blocker, 6-1, So., Cincinnati, Ohio) – 2005 started all 21 matches – career-high 29 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 31 points and 17 digs at Bowling Green – tied her career-high nine blocks (1-8) at Iowa – equaled her career-high of four aces at Northwestern – 19 matches with double-figure kills including the last nine – eight matches with 22 or more kills – nine matches with double-figure digs – named to the Buckeye Classic All-Tournament Team – named to the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team 2004 started all 34 matches – averaged 2.91 kills, .75 digs and 1.10 blocks per game – career-high nine blocks against Illinois – USA National experience includes the Youth National Team in 2003.
#7 Ami Stevens (Outside Hitter, 6-1, So., Centerburg, Ohio) – 2005 started and played in 19 matches – career-highs of 26 kills at Bowling Green – career-high 28.5 points at Northwestern – season-high .422 (25-6-45) hitting percentage at Northwestern – season-high 22 digs against Brigham Young – double-figure kills in 14 matches – double-figure digs in 10 matches – Ohio State Athlete of the Week for her play at Wisconsin and Northwestern – 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Selection – named to the Buckeye Classic All-Tournament Team – named to the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team 2004 started all 34 matches – named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team – averaged 2.78 kills, 3.02 digs and .43 blocks per game – career-high 17 kills against Northwestern and vs. Tennessee in the NCAA Regional Semifinals – career-high 27 digs vs. Tennessee – double-figure kills in 18 matches – double-figure digs in 16 matches – USA National experience includes the Junior National Team in 2004 and 2005.
#8 Briana McCarthy (Outside hitter, 6-2, Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis.) 2005 has not played 2004 started 26 matches – averaged 1.33 kills, .58 digs and .88 blocks per game in 2003 started 26 matches at setter and two at outside hitter in – averaged 11.53 assists per game with a career-high 66 assists against Temple.
#9 Felicia Jones (Outside Hitter, 5-11, Jr., Concord, Ontario/Southwest Missouri State-West Plains) 2005 played in 15 matches, starting seven – season-high three digs at Cleveland State – season-high seven kills against Long Beach State – hit a season-high .308 against Toledo 2003-04 played two years at Southwest Missouri State-West Plains Junior College – first team American Volleyball Coaches Association Junior College All-American and a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 2004 – averaged 4.12 kills, 3.68 digs and .33 blocks per game in 2004 – a second-team AVCA and NJCAA JC All-American – career-highs of 23 kills against Southern Idaho in 2003 and 27 digs against Tennessee in 2004.
#11 Amanda Miller (Outside hitter, 5-11, Sr., Littleton, Colo.) – 2005 played in 21 matches, starting 16 – hit a season-high .632 against Michigan State – season-high 15 kills against Northwestern – career-high eight digs at Iowa and against Cleveland State – double-figure kills in seven matches 2004 played in 27 matches 2003 had 16 starts.
#13 Marisa Main (Setter, 5-9, Jr., Louisville, Ky./Xavier) – 2005 started all 21 matches – named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play at No. 12 Wisconsin and at Iowa – named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play against Michigan State and Michigan – season-high 70 assists against Purdue – season-highs of 14 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 22 digs against Purdue – has five triple-doubles this season – 14 kills, 54 assists, 14 digs at Cleveland State – 11 kills, 47 assists and 10 digs against Michigan – 12 kills, 37 assists and 13 digs at Minnesota – 10 kills, 60 assists and 10 digs at Iowa – 12 kills, 42 assists and 15 digs against Northwestern- hit a season-high .786 against Michigan – seven matches with double-figure kills and eight matches with double-figure digs – twice named the Ohio State Athlete of the Week – 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Selection 2004 second-team AVCA All-American – first team AVCA Mideast All-Region – All-Big Ten – started 34 matches in 2004 averaging 14.88 assists, 2.35 digs and .46 blocks per game – career-high 85 assists against Tennessee in the NCAA Regional Semifinals in Minneapolis – Ohio State season assist leader with 1,785 – Big Ten statistical champion at 14.68 assists per game and finished second nationally in NCAA statistics at 14.88 – double-figure digs in 13 matches 2003 played at Xavier University – named to the Atlantic-10 All-Conference and All-Rookie teams.
#14 Caitlin Slevin (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, Fr., St. Joseph, Mich.) 2005 has not played / high school team was 2004 and 2005 district champions – honorable mention all-conference in 2005 – also played setter.
#15 Ashley Kiel (Outside Hitter, 5-11, Jr., Allenton, Wis./Northern Michigan) 2005 played in 21 matches, starting 19 – season-high 17 kills against Purdue – season-high 16 digs against Pittsburgh – six matches with double-figure digs and eight matches with double-figure digs 2003-04 played two seasons at Division II Northern Michigan – 2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Selection – averaged 2.58 kills, 3.24 digs and 1.10 blocks per game in 2004 – career-high 23 kills at Ashland in 2004 – career-high 26 digs at Hillsdale in 2004 – second team GLIAC All-Conference selection in 2003 – named the 2003 AVCA Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year – 2003 Great Lakes All-Region honorable mention selection.
#16 Jackie Schardt (Setter, 5-10, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) 2005 has played in 13 matches – season-high 13 assists and three assist blocks against Chicago State – season-high four digs against Northwestern 2004 played in six matches 2003 had nine starts at middle blocker 2002 career-high 62 assists at Michigan State.
