Top-25 Foes Welcome in the No. 14 Buckeyes
10/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 6, 2016
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten gauntlet challenges Ohio State once again this weekend, sending the 14th-ranked Buckeyes on the road to face a pair of Top-25 adversaries in No. 21 Michigan State (Friday, Oct. 7) and No. 23 Michigan (Sunday, Oct. 9). The national stage is set for Sunday’s rivalry match with ESPN2 broadcasting the scuffle.
WEEKLY BASICS
Friday, Oct. 7 — 7 p.m. ET — East Lansing, Mich. (Jenison Field House)
#14 Ohio State (12-4, 2-2 B1G) at #21 Michigan State (13-3, 2-2 B1G)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Video Broadcast: BTN Plus/BTN2Go
Sunday, Oct. 9 — 1 p.m. ET — Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
#13 Ohio State at #23 Michigan (13-3, 2-2 B1G)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Television: ESPN2
HISTORY WITH THE SPARTANS AND WOLVERINES
Ohio State leads in the all-time series against both Michigan State and Michgan. The Buckeyes have won 45 of 75 meetings with the Spartans while posting a 50-23 mark vs. the Wolverines. Ohio State’s success has translated on the road as well, posting away records of 18-17 and 16-12 at MSU and UM, respectively.
AWARDS, AWARDS, AWARDS & MORE AWARDS
Ohio State welcomed in a cavalcade of awards Oct. 3-5, including not one, but two, National Player of the Week recognitions. The week began with Taylor Sandbothe and Valeria León earning Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday. The next day brought AVCA National Player of the Week distinction for Sandbothe. Taylor Hughes then picked up a National Player of the Week accolade of her own, selected as such by espnW.
Eleven different Buckeyes have now earned National Player of the Week laurels a total of 13 times since 1994.This marks the third consecutive season Ohio State has been represented at least once.
OHIO STATE SEIZES TWO B1G VICTORIES
St. John Arena finally hosted its first match of the season on Sept. 28, witnessing an Ohio State sweep over Northwestern. The Buckeyes followed with a four-set triumph at previously No. 1 and undefeated Nebraska. Ohio State snapped the Huskers’ 28-match winning streak and recorded its third consecutive win in Lincoln. The Buckeyes are 4-1 in the last five meetings versus Nebraska.
NATIONAL TELEVISION EXPOSURE
Sunday’s match at Michigan is one of at least a half dozen Buckeye matches televised on national television this season. In addition to the ESPN2 broadcast in Ann Arbor, Ohio State will also be featured on Big Ten Network a minimum of five times.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION – #OSUWVBtribe
Social media users are encouraged to join the Ohio State Women’s Vollebyall conversation by utilizing the #OSUWVBtribe hashtag. Hear directly from members of the program weekly at OhioStateBuckeyes.com with a video series titled “#OSUWVBtribe Talk.”
AVCA RANKINGS
Ohio State sits at No. 14 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).
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:
1,506 total digs ranks second in OSU history (school record – 1,572 digs – Stacey Gordon; 2001-04)
3.44 digs per set are tied for second (school record – 3.45 digs/set – Chelsea Noble; 2008-09)
Sandbothe:
1.13 blocks per set rank second in OSU history (school record – 1.19 blocks/set – Shellye Sills; 1997-99)
96 solo blocks rank second (school record – 139 – Sherri Rinker; 1984-87)
481 total blocks rank second (school record – 517 – Dawn McDougall; 1988-91)
381 block assists rank fourth (school record – 442 – Dawn McDougall; 1988-19)
.304 attacking efficiency ranks sixth (school record – .366 – Sara Daniel; 1991-94)
