2005 Women’s Volleyball Season in Review – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Jan. 6, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2005 saw Ohio State finish with a 22-9 overall record and a 14-6 mark in the Big Ten Conference, finishing in a tie for third in the league. The Buckeyes received an at-large big to the NCAA Championship, advancing to the second round before losing.
REVIEWING THE 2005 SEASON
Ohio State would play the season without 2004 starter Briana McCarthy (Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis.) who was unavailable. OSU opened the season at home with a 3-0 win over Toledo. The Buckeyes then hosted the Sports Imports Classic, losing 0-3 to top-ranked Nebraska and defeating No. 24 Long Beach State, 3-0. Following a 3-2 victory at Cleveland State, Ohio State won the Bowling Green Invitational with 3-0 wins over East Carolina and Chicago State and a 3-2 victory of host Bowling Green. OSU’s Ami Stevens (So., Centerburg, Ohio) and Meyer were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Buckeyes closed out the non-conference season by hosting the Buckeye Classic. OSU defeated Pittsburgh, 3-1, in the opening round in St. John Arena but lost, 2-3, to Brigham Young in a match played at Centerburg High School. Stevens and Meyer were named to the All-Tournament Team.
With a 7-2 record, Ohio State began Big Ten play at home with a 3-1 win over No. 19 Purdue, but fell 2-3 to Illinois (18-20 in the fifth game). The Buckeyes then lost 0-3, at home, to No. 4 Penn State and defeated Indiana, 3-0. On the road, the Ohio State lost 0-3 to No. 8 Wisconsin and won at Northwestern, 3-2.
Back in St. John Arena, Ohio State collected wins over Michigan State, 3-1, and Michigan, 3-0. Marisa Main (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play against Michigan State and Michigan. The Buckeyes then upset No. 12 Minnesota, 3-0, on the road and added a 3-1 win at Iowa. Main was again honored as the Big Ten Player of the Week and Nicole Britenriker (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Main was also named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week. The winning streak continued at home with a 3-1 victory over Northwestern but OSU lost, 0-3, to 11th-ranked Wisconsin.
Returning to the road, Ohio State fell at No. 3 Penn State, 0-3 and then won, 3-1 at Indiana. The Buckeyes then won, 3-0 at Illinois and 3-2 at No. 14 Purdue. In St. John Arena, Ohio State defeated Iowa, 3-0, but lost 0-3 to No. 19 Minnesota. The Buckeyes closed out the regular season with a 3-0 win at Michigan and a 3-2 victory at Michigan State.
Ohio State received an at-large big to the NCAA Championship and was seeded 13th. The Buckeyes hosted first and second round matches, defeating Marshall, 3-0 in the first round but fell, 0-3, to 20th-ranked Ohio in the second round.
MAIN AND MEYER HONORED AS ALL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS
The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today that setter Marisa Main and middle blocker Danielle Meyer have been named to the 2005 AVCA All-American Team. Main was named to the second team for the second year while Meyer was a third team selection. Each of the three AVCA All-American Teams is comprised of 12 athletes.
The 5-9 Main helped Ohio State to a 22-9 overall record and a 14-6 mark in the Big Ten, finishing tied for third. For the season Main averaged 12.43 assists, 1.96 kills, 2.34 digs and .63 blocks per game. She started all 20 Big Ten Conference matches and averaged 12.78 assists per game ranking third in the league. Main ranked second in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .394 averaging 2.08 kills per game. She averaged 2.30 digs and .70 blocks per game in league play. She was named the Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season and was honored as the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Week in matches at Wisconsin and at Iowa. Main produced five triple-doubles (kills, assists, digs) this season with four of them in Big Ten matches. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, she was a 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Main was an AVCA Mideast All-Region selection in 2004 and 2005 when she was named a second-team AVCA All-American in 2004.
The 6-1 Meyer, for the season, averaged team-highs of 5.33 points, 4.49 kills and 1.01 blocks per game earning All-Big Ten honors this season. She was second on the team in digs per game at 2.42. Meyer finished fourth in the Big Ten in kills per game at 4.11. She was also the Ohio State team leader in ace serves (.26) and blocks (1.14) per game and was second in digs (2.48). She was named to the Buckeye Classic and the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team. Meyer produced double-figure kills in 25 matches this season and had 11 matches with double-figure digs. She was an AVCA Mideast All-Region selection this season.
Main and Meyer give Ohio State 12 individual AVCA All-Americans since 1989. The Buckeyes have had 17 AVCA All-Americans during that time.
MAIN AND MEYER HONORED AS ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS
The Big Ten Conference announced that setter Marisa Main and middle blocker Danielle Meyer have been named to the 13-player All-Conference Team that was selected by a vote of the Big Ten coaches.
The 5-9 Main helped Ohio State to a 21-8 regular season record and a 14-6 mark in the Big Ten, finishing tied for third. She started all 20 conference matches and averaged 12.78 assists per game ranking third in the league. Main ranked second in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .394 averaging 2.08 kills per game. She averaged 2.30 digs and .70 blocks per game in league play. She was named the Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season and was honored as the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Week in matches at Wisconsin and at Iowa. Main produced five triple-doubles (kills, assists, digs) this season with four of them in Big Ten matches. A 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten selection, Main was an All-Big Ten selection in 2004 when she was named a second-team AVCA All-American.
The 6-1 Meyer finished fourth in the Big Ten in kills per game at 4.11. She was also the Ohio State team leader in ace serves (.26) and blocks (1.14) per game and was second in digs (2.48). She was named to the Buckeye Classic and the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team. Meyer produced double-figure kills in 24 matches this season and had 11 matches with double-figure digs.
MEYER, MAIN AND STEVENS RECEIVE ACADEMIC HONORS
Three Ohio State student-athletes have been honored by ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selections. Danielle Meyer was named to the second team while Ami Stevens and Marisa Main were third team selections. To be considered for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, own a grade-point average of 3.2 and must be a starter or key reserve for their team. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon on the national level. CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) has been selecting Academic All-America teams since 1952.
NINE STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference named nine women’s volleyball players Academic All-Big Ten. To qualify, a player must have a 3.00 grade point average. Named Academic All-Big Ten for Ohio State were Brittany Dahms, Rebecca Kastein, Marisa Main, Brianna McCarthy, Danielle Meyer, Amanda Miller, Jackie Schardt, Ami Stevens and Anna Tengnas.
BUCKEYES PLAY IN 14TH NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
For the 14 time in 17 seasons, Ohio State participated in the NCAA Championship. OSU’s first appearance was in 1989 and has played in every championship except 2003. Participation in 1999 and 2000 was later vacated. The Buckeyes have advanced to regional play 10 times and twice played in the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994.
BUCKEYES LOOK STRONG FOR 2006
Ohio State has all six starters returning from 2005 as well as the starting libero and a 2004 starter. The Buckeyes have 11 players returning from last season and will add an excellent freshmen class for 2006. These include Ashley Hughes, Kristen Dozier, Heather Royal and Meghan Simons.
OHIO STATE IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE STATISTICS
Four Buckeyes are ranked in the conference only Big Ten final statistics released by the Big Ten Conference. Danielle Meyer ranks fourth in kills per game with a 4.11 average. Marisa Main ranks second in hitting percentage at .398 with Nicole Britenriker seventh at .330. Main ranks third in assists per game with a 12.78 average while Ami Stevens ranks 10th in kills per game at 3.44. In team statistics, the Buckeyes rank first in kills (16.81) and assists (15.42) and is second in hitting percentage (.262) OSU is fourth in service aces (1.30), eighth in digs (15.12) and eighth in blocks (2.34) per game.
OHIO STATE IN THE NCAA STATISTICS
In the final statistics released by the NCAA, Ohio State was ranked in two team categories. The Buckeyes were 14th in kills per game with a 16.63 average and was 19th in assists per game at 15.20.
OSU RANKED 23RD IN FINAL CSTV/AVCA COACHES POLL
The 2005 final CSTV (College Sports Television/AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll had Ohio State ranked 23rd. It marked the second poll that OSU was ranked 23rd. The Buckeyes began the season ranked 12th in the preseason poll and were ranked every week during the season. The Buckeyes are one of five Big Ten squads ranked in the CSTV/AVCA Poll. Others include Penn State at fifth, Wisconsin 10th, Purdue 17th and Minnesota 21st. Additionally, Northwestern was listed as receiving points.
HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone has completed his 24th season at Ohio State. He has a 493-270 record with the Buckeyes and is 277-157 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 14 of the last 17 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 543-312.
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.
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.
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 – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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 29 matches with two starts at defensive specialist and 22 at libero – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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 15 matches with four starts at libero – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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 31 matches with 26 starts – ranked seventh in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .330 – career-high 18 kills against Illinois – career-high .615(9-1-13) hitting percentage against Marshall – career-high 25 digs at Indiana – career-high eight total blocks (1-7) at Michigan State – 16 matches with double-figure kills and five 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 a third-team AVCA All-American – All-Big Ten – a second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – started all 31 matches – ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kills per game at 4.11 – career-high 29 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 31 points at Bowling Green – career-high 19 digs at Indiana – tied her career-high nine blocks at Iowa (1-8) and at Purdue (2-7) – equaled her career-high of four aces at Northwestern – 25 matches with double-figure kills – nine matches with 21 or more kills – 11 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 a third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – started and played in 29 matches – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – career-highs of 26 kills at Bowling Green – career-high 28.5 points at Northwestern – season-high .500 (13-0-26) hitting percentage at Michigan – ranked 10th in the Big Ten in kills per game at 3.44 – season-high 22 digs against Brigham Young – double-figure kills in 20 matches – double-figure digs in 15 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 – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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 25 matches, starting 16 – career-high four digs at Penn State – career-high 13 kills at Illinois and at Michigan State – hit a career-high .421 (9-1-19) at Penn State – career-high 15 points at Michigan State – career-high four blocks (1-3) against Marshall 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 28 matches, starting 17 – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – hit a season-high .632 (14-2-19) 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 An AVCA second-team All-American – All-Big Ten – a third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – started all 31 matches – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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-high of 14 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 22 digs against Purdue – season-high 16 points at Michigan State – 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 – eight matches with double-figure kills and 13 matches with double-figure digs – finished second in hitting percentage in the Big Ten at .398 and was third in assists per game at 12.78 – 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 did 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 31 matches, starting 29 and had one start at libero – season-high 17 kills against Purdue – hit a career-high .600 (7-1-10) against Marshall – season-high 20 digs at Indiana – season-high seven total blocks (1-6) at Michigan State – six matches with double-figure kills and 12 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 18 matches – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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.
