Ohio State
16-3,15-3Big Ten
Missouri (NCAA Second Round)
16-8,15-7SEC
Buckeyes Top Missouri, 3-0, in NCAA Tournament Opener
4/15/2021 3:53:39 PM | Women's Volleyball
ADDITIONAL INFO
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 8 Ohio State women’s volleyball team came out strong in its debut on Thursday afternoon with a straight-set win (25-17, 25-20, 25-21) over No. 25 Missouri in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the CHI Health Center Omaha. The Buckeyes improve to 16-3 on the year.
Ohio State picked up its first NCAA Tournament victory under head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg and since the 2016 season. The Buckeyes finished the afternoon with a .295 attacking percentage and out-blocked Missouri by a 9-4 margin.
Gabby Gonzales, Emily Londot and Rylee Rader combined for 35 of Ohio State’s 45 kills and nearly matched Missouri’s team total (36). Londot extended her season-long streak of reaching double figures with 13 kills. Gonzales chipped in 12 daggers to hit .355 and Rader added 10 kills as she converted at a .474 clip.
Londot also scooped 10 digs for her eighth double-double this season. Mac Podraza chipped in 31 assists and three service aces while Hannah Gruensfelder led the team on defense with 11 digs. Kylie Murr and Gonzales both tallied eight digs. At the net, Lauren Witte and Londot registered five blocks apiece, followed by Rader (3) and Gonzales (2).
SET 1: Ohio State hit .519 during the opening frame as it connected on 16 of its 27 attempts. After falling behind early, a 7-1 run put the Buckeyes in front 9-5. Back-to-back kills by Rader extended the advantage to 19-12. Gonzales and Londot had the final pair of tallies to take the set, 25-17.
SET 2: The Buckeyes were in control for the entire set and went on to earn a 25-20 triumph. The squad strung together seven straight points, which featured three kills by Gonzales, for a 21-12 lead. The Tigers had a 6-1 spurt to shrink the gap until Vanja Bukilic laid down the set-sealing kill.
SET 3: A big block by Rader and Londot forced Missouri to call a timeout as it trailed 13-8. The Tigers found their footing as they pulled within two at the 20-18 mark. Ohio State responded by scoring the next three points, all by different players. Londot had the final kill to close the rally, 25-21.
UP NEXT
Ohio State will face the winner of Morehead State/Florida on Sunday.
