#6 Buckeyes Travel to That State Up North – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 20, 2015
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Owners of their highest national ranking since 2004, the No. 6 Ohio State University women’s volleyball team hits the road for a pair of Big Ten battles at Michigan State (Wed., Oct. 21) and No. 23 Michigan (Sat., Oct. 24). Both contests are scheduled for 7 p.m. ET starts and slated to be broadcast on BTN Plus.
Forty percent of the Big Ten season is in the books and there is a three-way tie atop the conference standings. Ohio State, Minnesota and Nebraska are each 7-1 in B1G action.
WEEKLY BASICS
Wednesday, Oct. 21 – 7 p.m. ET – East Lansing, Mich. (Jenison Field House)
#6 Ohio State (18-2, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (13-6, 5-3 Big Ten)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: BTN Plus
Saturday, Oct. 24 – 7 p.m. ET – Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
#6 Ohio State vs. #23 Michigan (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: BTN Plus
HISTORY WITH THE SPARTANS AND WOLVERINES
Ohio State owns a considerable advantage in the all-time series against both Michigan State and Michigan, leading the Spartans 45-29 and topping the Wolverines in 49 of 71 previous meetings (49-22). The Buckeyes have posted marks of 18-16 in East Lansing and 15-12 in Ann Arbor. Last season, Ohio State topped MSU in their lone match-up while splitting a pair with UM.
B1G-TIME SUCCESS
The Buckeyes at 7-1 in the Big Ten are off to their best conference start since Ohio State ripped off nine straight victories to start the 2004 B1G slate. The ‘15 Buckeyes are currently riding a seven-match Big Ten winning streak, the longest since 2006.
DEFENSIVE EFFORTS
Ohio State has limited seven of eight Big Ten foes to sub-.200 hitting percentages with the lone exception being Wisconsin’s .201 attacking clip. Overall for the season, the Buckeyes have stymied the opposition to a .153 hitting percentage. That defensive rate ranks second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
APPOLD GRABS ATTENTION OF THE WORLD WIDE LEADER IN SPORTS
A week after the Big Ten Conference chose Audra Appold as one of the league’s co-Players of the Week (Oct. 5), the freshman out of Perrysburg, Ohio, saw the national spotlight shine in her direction. Appold was named the espnW National Player of the Week on Oct. 14 following her performance during road victories at Northwestern and Illinois over the weekend. It marks the second consecutive season a Buckeye has earned the national award after Elizabeth Campbell took home the recognition on Oct. 8, 2014. A total of nine Buckeyes have now picked up National Player of the Week honors, all starting with Laura Davis’ selection as the AVCA’s National Player of the Week in 1994 (Nov. 21).
RPI REPPIN’
The NCAA began releasing the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) last week. Ohio State is slotted No. 4 this week in the rankings which carry substantial weight in determining NCAA Tournament participants and First/Second Round hosts.
THE BIG TEN GAUNTLET
Eight Big Ten programs are ranked in this week’s AVCA Division I Coaches Poll, including No. 3 Nebraska, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Minnesota, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 18 Illinois, No. 19 Purdue and No. 23 Michigan. In addition, Michigan State is receiving votes. Thirteen of 14 conference schools posted winning percentages above .700 during non-conference action.
Speaking of non-conference foes, Ohio State has also faced No. 14 Arizona and No. 17 Florida State this season. As of this week’s rankings, over half of the Buckeyes’ matches will be against schools nationally-ranked or receiving votes (18 of 32 regular season matches).
