Buckeyes’ Grit Seals Sweep Against Spartans

Wednesday, November 8

Columbus, Ohio

7:00 PM

Ohio State

10-14,7-8Big Ten

Michigan State

16-10,8-7Big Ten

Michigan St.

Ohio St.

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Buckeyes’ Grit Seals Sweep Against Spartans

11/8/2023 11:06:00 PM | General, Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Ohio State earned its fourth sweep of conference play on Wednesday against Michigan State.

Box Score | Season Stats | Photo Gallery

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-14, 7-8 B1G) earned the sweep (25-22, 26-24, 27-25) against Michigan State (16-10, 8-7 B1G) on Wednesday night in Covelli to conclude a three-match homestand.

After Ohio State took the lead in the first set, it was not relinquished and the Buckeyes earned the 25-22 set win. Michigan State built an early 10-2 lead in the second set, but Ohio State battled back to earn a 26-24 set win. The third set was close throughout with 16 ties and eight lead changes, but OSU sealed the sweep with a 27-25 set win after scoring the final three points.

Emily Londot totaled eight kills (including the 1,600^th of her career) in the first set on her way to her 22^nd match with 10+ kills this season and finished with 16 kills. She added 14 digs for her 12^th double-double of the season and set a new career-high five aces. Zaria Ragler posted a career-high five blocks, while Lauren Murphy tied her career-high four blocks. Sarah Sue Morbitzer recorded 10+ digs for the seventh time this season and finished with 12 digs. Mia Tuman earned her eighth double-double of the season with 28 assists and 10 digs. Eloise Brandewie recorded her second-straight match with 10+ kills.

How it Happened
Michigan State scored the first three points of the match before Ohio State tied the set at four on a Londot ace. The Spartans led by a 9-6 margin before the Buckeyes used a 4-0 run to take a 12-10 lead, their first of the match. OSU extended its lead to 16-12, forcing a Michigan State timeout. The Spartans called a second timeout as Ohio State led by a 19-15 margin. The Buckeyes earned a 25-22 set win on a Michigan State ball handling error.

The Spartans opened scoring in the second set and built an early 10-2 lead before the Buckeyes used a 4-0 run, including a pair of aces from Londot, to prompt an MSU timeout. Ohio State strung together three unanswered points to cut its deficit to 15-13, forcing a second Michigan State timeout. The Buckeyes used a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the set at 21-18 but the Spartans tied the set at 21. MSU tied the set again at 24 with back-to-back points before OSU sealed the 26-24 set win on a solo block from Londot.

Ohio State scored first in the third set, but Michigan State used a 6-0 run to take an 8-4 lead and force a Buckeye timeout. OSU strung together three unanswered points to get within three at 11-8 as MSU took this timeout. The Buckeyes extended their run to 7-0 on Murphy's serve to take a 12-11 lead, their first since leading 4-3. The score was tied at points 11 through 16 before Ohio State took a 19-16 lead on a 3-0 run. Michigan State responded with a 4-0 run to take the lead back at 20-19. The teams traded points before back-to-back MSU points gave the Spartans a 25-24 lead. Following a Buckeye timeout, Ohio State scored the final three points to earn the 27-25 set win and seal the sweep.

Highlights

Team
S1: Emily Londot ace
S1: Zaria Ragler/Lauren Murphy block
S1: Emily Londot kill
S1: Set point
S2: Anna McClure pancake
S2: Zaria Ragler kill
S2: Eloise Brandewie kill
S2: Set point
S3: Chelsea Thorpe/Eloise Brandewie block
S3: Lauren Murphy kill
S3: Match point

Match Notes

This is the Buckeyes' sixth sweep of the season and their fourth against a Big Ten opponent.
Emily Londot was the first in the match to reach double-figure kills, doing so for the 22^nd time this season and totaling 16 kills to surpass 1,600 career kills. She added 14 digs for her 12^th double-double of the season.
Londot had a career-high five aces, the most by any Buckeye in a three-setter this season.
Zaria Ragler totaled a career-high five blocks.
Lauren Murphy matched her career-high four blocks.
Mia Tuman earned her eighth double-double of the season with 28 assists and 10 digs.
Sarah Sue Morbitzer totaled at least 10 digs for the seventh time this season, finishing with 12 digs tonight.
Eloise Brandewie had at least 10 kills for the fourth time this season and in back-to-back matches after 11 on Saturday against Indiana.
S1: Ohio State took the lead at 11-10 and did not surrender it.
S2: The Buckeyes overcame a slow start and held off a late Spartans push.
S3: Ohio State scored the final three points of the match to earn the sweep after 16 ties and eight lead changes throughout the set.

What They Said

Assistant Coach Michelle Bartsch-Hackley:
- "I think when [Eloise Brandewie and Mia Tuman] are both a lot more confident and are both going harder. They're both getting confident and progressive and that's what we need from them, especially in the middle of running that route."
- "[Emily Londot] is super stable and also with her passing defense and she makes a lot of plays that people don't realize. Being a consistent player for us and then when we need it, going up and getting the points that people notice. She's worked really hard this year so I'm proud of the role she's taken on."
Freshman middle Eloise Brandewie:
- "With scouting, we have to know when there are three hitters in the front row. We've always had to be prepared but I think our coaching staff does a great job telling us where the set is probably going to go. It helps me a lot with blocking."
- "Playing at home is really nice. We've had great crowds and that helped a lot these past two games. The fans bring it every time so [the environment] is awesome."
Freshman setter Mia Tuman:
- "I think this goes back to the work we've been putting in the gym. At first, you don't know if [the connection with Eloise Brandewie] seems like it's there but the more you work on it in a game, that's what we saw in these past couple matches."
- "I'm surrounded by so many great leaders on the court who communicate very well. I've got a lot of great people to learn from. I think throughout the season and talking with them and learning how to play with them has made me more vocal."

Up Next
The Buckeyes head on the road for the next three matches, beginning on Sunday at Maryland for a 1 p.m. start on B1G+.

Tickets for the Buckeyes' 2023 home season are available. Single match tickets can be purchased HERE and mini plans can be purchased HERE. Applicable service fees will apply to all tickets. Fans with ticketing questions and group ticket requests (10+ tickets and in advance only) should call the Ohio State Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-BUCKS or email athletic.tix@osu.edu.

#GoBucks