Victorious Stretch Extends to 11 Wins in a Row – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2015
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ROCHESTER, Mich. — For the third time in as many weekends, Ohio State Women’s Volleyball has been crowned tournament champions. The Buckeyes took down host school Oakland in four sets (25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18) to claim the Golden Grizzlies Invitational title. Ohio State (11-1) last suffered a loss in the season opener on Aug. 28, carrying an 11-match winning streak into Big Ten play starting with a home contest against Minnesota on Wednesday (Sept. 23).
In each of the tournament championships, the OSU trio of Elizabeth Campbell, Valeria León and Taylor Sandbothe have been recognized as members of the all-tournament team. Sandbothe tallied her second Tournament MVP honor as the Golden Grizzlies Invitational’s best player; and León was tabbed as the event’s ‘Best Libero.’ Both León and Sandbothe were also all-tournament team honorees the opening weekend in Wyoming.
Ohio State attacked the Golden Grizzlies (5-8) from all angles offensively as five different Buckeyes posted 10 or more kills. Campbell and Sandbothe paced the team quantitatively with 13 kills apiece while Tyler Richardson led the way qualitatively by attacking .667 (11-1-15). Richardson got in on six blocks as well, recording three solo blocks and three block assists. León was superb as usual in the backcourt, picking up a match-high 18 digs.
The two squads exchanged blows in the opening set, going back-and-forth to the tune of 16 tied scores and seven lead changes. Neither team earned an edge of more than three points throughout the entire frame. Richardson wasted little time getting going, smacking four kills on five errorless swings in the first set. The final stalemate at 23-23 was broken up by a Mitchell kill and subsequent OU attacking error.
It was the Elizabeth Campbell Show in set number two, sending home seven kills with no errors on eight attempts (.875). She was responsible for three kills during a five-point stretch which completely flipped the script mid-set. OSU trailed 9-8 before Campbell’s outburst pushed the Buckeyes ahead for good at 13-9 en route to a 25-16 winner.
Sandbothe took over the reins as the top offensive weapon in the third set. She produced six points on five kills and two block assists. Despite her best efforts, Oakland was able to force a fourth set by narrowly taking the third 25-23.
Ohio State got defensive in the final frame, pulling off a 25-18 triumph despite attacking just .119; thanks in large part to four team blocks. Richardson took care of a pair on her own while Sandbothe teamed up with Campbell and Luisa Schirmer once each for the other two rejections. The Buckeyes jumped ahead 3-0 and never trailed the rest of the evening.
Big Ten action rolls into town on Wednesday (Sept. 23) when Ohio State hosts another gold-shaded mascot (Minnesota Golden Gophers) at 7 p.m. ET.
