Ohio State
6-3
Xavier
6-3
Ohio State Guts Out Another Five-Set Victory On the Road – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2014
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CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team put forth a gritty effort Saturday night at Xavier, out-lasting the Musketeers for the Buckeyes’ second five-set win of the weekend. Ohio State and Xavier both stand at 6-3 on the season after OSU escaped the Cintas Center winning 17-25, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11.
Taylor Sandbothe and Erin Sekinger were placed on the Millennium Hotel Invitational all-tournament team. It marks the third such recognition for Sandbothe in as many weeks. Saturday night, the Buckeye duo accounted for 34 kills, 11 blocks and a total of 45.5 points scored.
Sanbothe racked up 18 kills while hitting .483 (18-4-29) to go along with nine blocks (4s, 5a). Sekinger proved to be an offensive weapon, scorching 16 kills and four service aces against the Musketeers. A third offensive asset was Katie Mitchell and her 12 kills on 25 errorless swings (.480). Valeria León posted good numbers defensively, digging 20 balls.
Following a 25-17 Xavier tally in the opening frame, Ohio State’s offense exploded in stanza number two. Setters Taylor Sherwin and Maggie Heim guided an offensive onslaught attacking at a .593 clip from 18 kills and just two errors. Ohio State led from start to finish in the second set, evening the match score heading into intermission.
Set number three was far from one-sided, however, seeing the lead switch hands four times. The fourth and final lead change came early though at 12-11 off a kill from Sekinger. Ohio State gradually pulled away from there en route to a 25-19 besting.
The Musketeers counterpunched in the fourth set, hitting .312 as a team and forcing a fifth set. It didn’t come easy though as Ohio State fended off two match points and pushed it to a final score of 26-24.
Seniors Sekinger and León took charge in the fifth, registering five kills and five digs, respectively. Ohio State spotted Xavier the very first point before gobbling up 15 of the next 25 and clinching the match at 15-11.
