Ohio State
17-8, 8-5
Maryland
9-15, 2-11
#18 Buckeyes Dispose of Maryland in Four Sets – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 7, 2014
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State squared off with Maryland on the volleyball court for the first time as Big Ten adversaries Friday night. The #18 Buckeyes recorded a four-set victory (25-16, 20-25, 25-19, 25-12) over the Terrapins and improved to 7-1 all-time versus Maryland. Ohio State is now 17-8 on the season and 8-5 in conference action.
The Buckeyes never trailed in their three victorious sets over Maryland (9-15, 2-11). Ohio State attacked over .300 in two of the frames and held the Terps to a sub-.000 clip in the final two stanzas. Junior Tyler Richardson found success on both sides of the net, putting away eight kills on 12 swings with just one error (.583) offensively and offering up five blocks (2s, 3a) as defensive difference maker.
While Erin Sekinger and Luisa Schirmer passed the offensive attack quantitatively with 13 kills apiece, Richardson (.583) and Elizabeth Campbell (10-2-24; .333) paced the squad qualitatively. Valeria León provided a baker’s dozen worth of digs to lead all players.
Ohio State was lethal from the service line, rifling in 12 aces. León was responsible for four of them, setting a new career high. Campbell added three service aces to her stuffed stat sheet (10 kills, three aces, two digs, two blocks).
The Buckeyes got right to it, going ahead 3-0 to open the match. The lead gradually grew from there and stretched as wide as nine points, including the 25-16 final ledger. Everyone in attendance received a Raising Canes free chick finger coupon thanks to 18 OSU kills in the first set. Luisa Schirmer bounced six kills to do her part in obtaining the fried chicken goodness.
Maryland rebounded in the second set, never trailing. Ohio State climbed out of several holes before ultimately falling 25-20. The score was tied as late as 16-16 before the Terps pulled away to even the score at intermission.
It was back to business for OSU in set number three. The Buckeyes went on seven separate runs of three or more points, streaking to a 25-19 triumph. Ohio State’s wrath bullied the Terrapins into utilizing both timeouts before Maryland could even tally its eight point (17-7).
Taylor Sherwin re-ignited the offense in the next set, steering Ohio State to a .333 attacking efficiency. More importantly, however, was the Buckeye defensive wall set up to the tune of five blocks and a -.045 Terp hitting percentage. Richardson got in on four of the five rejections, joined by four different teammates. The first four points went in favor of OSU en route to a 25-12 match-clinching rout.
Rutgers comes to town Saturday for a 7 p.m. ET contest inside St. John Arena.
