Two More Top-20 Clashes Loom for Ohio State
10/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2016
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 23 Ohio State University women’s volleyball team faces a pair of highly-touted opponents this week, first heading to Happy Valley for a Wednesday evening bout with Penn State live on the Big Ten Network starting at 8 p.m. before returning to the state capital and St. John Arena for Saturday’s home contest versus Michigan State at 6 p.m.
WEEKLY BASICS
Wednesday, Oct. 19 — 8 p.m. ET — University Park, Pa. (Rec Hall)
#19 Ohio State (13-7, 3-5 B1G) at #10 Penn State (16-3, 8-0 Big Ten)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Television: Big Ten Network (watch online)
Saturday, Oct. 22 — 6 p.m. ET — Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
#19 Ohio State vs. #11 Michigan State (16-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Video Broadcast: BTN Plus
PINK PROMOTIONS
Saturday night is the annual `Pink Match’ at St. John Arena, joining in the effort to raise breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink attire to go along with a giveaway of pink pom poms and pink yowies. Parking is free for match attendees.
ALL-TIME SCHOOL RECORDS IN DANGER
An all-time Ohio State record will potentially have a new owner by week’s end as Valeria León is just 10 digs away from becoming the career digs leader in the program’s 46-year history. León enters Wednesday’s tilt at Penn State with 1,563 digs to her name, quickly closing in on 2004 National Player of the Year Stacey Gordon’s mark of 1,572.
Fellow senior Taylor Sandbothe is on track to break a school record of her own. With 498 total blocks to start the week, she ranks second all-time and is within 20 more stuffs of surpassing Dawn McDougall (517 blocks; 1998-91) for the top spot in Buckeye lore.
*Complete `Career Records Watch’ can be found on Page 7 of the above match notes.
BUCKEYES BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN
Ohio State got back to its winning ways last Saturday with a dominating effort over Iowa, outscoring the Hawkeyes by 29 points in three sets (25-15, 25-22, 25-9). The Buckeyes spoiled Iowa’s best start since 1988 (entering at 14-4 and 5-2 in conference play), handing the Hawkeyes a fifth loss while improving to 13-7 overall themselves.
SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE
Valeria León has been named one of 30 candidates nationwide for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a Divison I senior and have notable achievemetns in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. The 30 women’s volleyball candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season.
CAREER RECORD BOOKS UNDER SIEGE
Seniors Valeria León and Taylor Sandbothe have launched an assault on the Ohio State Record Books, cracking the Top-10 in multiple statistical categories with sights set on the top spot:
León:
3.46 digs per set rank first in OSU history (school record – 3.45 digs/set – Chelsea Noble; 2008-09)
1,563 total digs rank second (school record – 1,572 digs – Stacey Gordon; 2001-04)
Sandbothe:
498 total blocks rank second in OSU history (school record – 517 – Dawn McDougall; 1988-91)
1.14 blocks per set rank second (school record – 1.19 blocks/set – Shellye Sills; 1997-99)
98 solo blocks rank second (school record – 139 – Sherri Rinker; 1984-87)
400 block assists rank third (school record – 442 – Dawn McDougall; 1988-19)
.304 attacking efficiency ranks sixth (school record – .366 – Sara Daniel; 1991-94)
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Ohio State sits at No. 19 in this week’s AVCA Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are one of nine Big Ten teams ranked in the Top-25. The Big Ten Conference combined for an overall non-conference record of 122-36 (.772).
