Top-25, Big Ten Bouts On the Card This Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 21, 2015
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 12 Ohio State University women’s volleyball team is set to collide with No. 21 Minnesota and No. 16 Wisconsin inside St. John Arena to begin the Big Ten slate this week. Ohio State hosts the Golden Gophers on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at 7 p.m. before a 2 p.m. Sunday showdown (Sept. 27) with the Badgers.
WEEKEND BASICS
Wednesday, Sept. 23 – 7 p.m. ET – Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
#12 Ohio State (11-1) vs. #21 Minnesota (8-2)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: BTN Plus
Sunday, Sept. 27 – 2 p.m. ET – Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
#12 Ohio State (11-1) vs. #16 Wisconsin (8-2)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: BTN Plus
SIZZLING BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes carry an 11-match winning streak into Wednesday’s Big Ten opener. The hot stretch includes three consecutive tournament titles and three victories over top-15 opponents. Ohio State has ascended to No. 12 in the AVCA Coaches Poll following the 11 straight triumphs.
HOME COOKIN’
Ohio State Women’s Volleyball has won 70 percent of its matches inside St. John Arena all-time. The Buckeyes began competition in the facility in 1986, compiling an overall mark of 301-129 (.700) which includes three wins earlier this season during the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic.
BIG DIGS
The two largest dig totals by a Buckeye since rally scoring was instituted in 2001 have come this season by way of Valeria León. The OSU libero originally set the mark Sept. 5 by digging 32 balls in a five-set victory over No. 14 Florida State. She then promptly broke her own record with 35 digs in a four-set triumph over No. 13 Arizona (Sept. 12). The 35-dig collection is the most ever in a four-set match by a Buckeye and ranks second overall in school history. León’s 32 digs vs. the Seminoles rank fifth all-time.
For the season, León is averaging a Big Ten-best 5.30 digs per set. That rate also ranks 15th in the country.
THE BIG TEN GAUNTLET
Eight Big Ten programs are ranked in this week’s AVCA Division I Coaches Poll, including No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 9 Illinois, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 20 Purdue, No. 21 Minnesota and No. 22 Michigan. In addition, Iowa and Michigan State are receiving votes. Thirteen of 14 conference schools posted winning percentages above .700 during non-conference action.
HISTORY WITH THE BADGERS AND GOLDEN GOPHERS
Minnesota and Wisconsin both own a slim advantage in the all-times series with Ohio State. The Golden Gophers have won 40 of 74 meetings while Wisconsin owns a 37-34 overall mark vs. the Buckeyes. When played in St. John Arena, however, Ohio State has topped Minnesota 20 off 33 times and split 32 match-ups with the Badgers.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM TAKEOVER
Junior teammates, Valeria León and Taylor Sandbothe, have been voted to the all-tournament team in each of the first four weekends of the season. Senior Elizabeth Campbell joined them as an all-tournament performer during the last three events. León picked up Most Valuable Player honors at the Blackbird Invitational while Sandbothe was tabbed the tournament’s top player in both the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic and Golden Grizzlies Invitational.
Sandbothe’s streak of all-tournament team selection dates back to her freshman season. Starting with the Blue and White Classic in Sept. 2013, she has earned all-tournament recognition in eight straight non-conference tournaments she’s competed in (missed last year’s Miami University Invitational due to illness). In total, Sandbothe has registered all-tourney accolades in nine of 11 career events.
