Buckeyes Open Season With Convincing 3-0 Win Over Northern Kentucky
8/27/2021 11:11:15 PM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score | Season Stats | Photo Gallery
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team opened the 2021 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win against Northern Kentucky (25-10, 25-18, 25-14) inside Nationwide Arena on the first day of the Sports Imports Classic. In her first collegiate match, freshman middle blocker Arica Davis tied a program record for single-match total blocks (13) and set the single-match record for block assists (12).
How it Happened
Ohio State started strong, taking a commanding 8-1 lead to open the match and did not look back. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 13-3 to force a second Northern Kentucky timeout. OSU ended on a 7-1 run to take the first set by a 25-10 margin as Gabby Gonzalez and Rylee Rader led the team with four kills apiece.
Set two featured a rally to start, as the teams tallied seven ties and four lead changes by the time they were tied at 10. Northern Kentucky would take a 13-12 lead, its last of the match, before Ohio State responded with six-consecutive points to take an 18-13 lead and force the Norse’s second timeout of the set. From there, the Buckeyes outscored NKU 8-5 to take set two by a 25-18 mark.
The Buckeyes took control of set three, scoring the first eight points on the floor and taking an 11-1 lead. Ohio State led by as many as 14 points (16-4) and let Northern Kentucky get as close as nine points (17-8). Kills by Rylee Rader got OSU to match point and sealed the match.
Highlights
S1: set point (Rylee Rader and Mia Grunze block)
S2: Emily Londot and Arica Davis block (10th total block of the match)
S2: set point (Mia Grunze kill)
S3: match point (Rylee Rader kill)
Match Notes
- Freshman middle blocker Arica Davis tied a program record for single-match total blocks (13) and set the single-match record for block assists (12).
- Gabby Gonzalez led the floor with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Mac Podraza led with 31 assists.
- Ohio State led the entirety of sets one and three. Set two had 10 ties and six lead changes.
- Set one: The Buckeyes hit .435 (11 kills on 23 attempts), compared to -0.095 for the Norse (five kills on 21 attempts).
- Set one: Ohio State opened the match with a 10-2 run. Northern Kentucky would not get closer than an eight-point spread.
- Set two: Neither team led by more than three points until the Buckeyes scored six-consecutive points to take an 18-13 lead.
- Set two: Gabby Gonzales led Ohio State with seven kills.
- Set three: The Buckeyes opened the set with eight-consecutive points and jumped out to an 11-1 lead.
- Set three: After OSU went up 18-8, NKU did not get within 10.
What They Said
VIDEO: Arica Davis
Up Next
The Buckeyes wrap up the Sports Imports Classic on Saturday as they host No. 4 Washington at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are on sale online through Ticketmaster.com and can also be bought at the Nationwide Arena Box Office on Saturday. Ohio State students are free with a valid BuckID and are encouraged to use the complementary shuttle from campus. Fans can follow along through live stats and on BTN+.
#GoBucks
