No.12 Ohio State Opens MIVA Campaign with 3-0 Win

Thursday, February 5

Highland Heights, KY

7 p.m.

Ohio State

5-3,1-0MIVA

Northern Kentucky University

1-4,0-1MIVA

Ohio St.

Northern Ky.

No.12 Ohio State Opens MIVA Campaign with 3-0 Win

2/5/2026 8:34:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Buckeyes face newcomer Northern Kentucky in league opener

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 13 Ohio State (5-3, 1-0) opened the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association season with a 3-0 win at newcomer Northern Kentucky (1-4, 0-1) Thursday at Regents Hall in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

The Buckeyes and Norse went back-and-forth in the opening set before the Buckeyes scored the final four points after trailing 22-21 to win 25-23. Ohio State went on to win the next two sets, 25-18, 25-18.

The Buckeyes were led in kills by Shane Wetzel with 14. Owen Pickering and Eliel Salva-Torres each added eight.

Setter Daniel Henwood Rodriguez was credited with 33 assists. Wetzel and Drew Hudson lead with seven digs apiece.

Ohio State hit .341 for the match, which was bolstered by a third set hitting percentage of .417. Wetzel hit. .522 to pace both teams.

Set 1 (OSU, 25-22)
The Buckeyes kept it close at 4-all to start the first set. The Norse took a small lead with a block at 8-7. Eliel Salva-Torres and Aaron Grimm's consecutive kills gave Ohio State a 10-9 lead. A block by Shane Wetzel and Grimm gave the Buckeyes a 13-11 advantage. Another kill by Wetzel kept the Buckeyes tied at 14-all. Owen Pickering's kill gave Ohio State a 17-16 lead. A block by the Norse for a 2-point lead was followed by Buckeye timeout down 19-17. A couple of great digs by Salva-Torres set the Buckeyes up perfectly for another kill by Pickering to make it 19-all. Jack O'Riordan gave Ohio State the lead before forcing an NKU timeout at 21-20. Wetzel's successful joust on the left side tied it at 22-all. A service ace by Pickering gave the Buckeyes the win, 25-22.

Set 2 (25-18, OSU)
A kill by Salva-Torres started the Buckeyes strong in the second set, 1-0. Ohio State went on a 6-1 run to start the set with four kills by Salva-Torres. A service ace by Daniel Henwood Rodriguez gave Ohio State a six-point lead that forced a Norse timeout at 11-5. A successful Buckeye challenge gave them a 13-8 lead. A consecutive kill and service ace by Salva-Torres kept a strong Ohio State lead at 18-11. Another successful Buckeye challenge made Ohio State first to 20-points (20-12). Another massive kill by Wetzel gave the Buckeyes a 22-14 lead. A kill by Pickering gave Ohio State their first set point, 24-18. The Buckeyes then took the set, 25-18.

Set 3 (25-18, OSU)
A backrow kill by Jack O'Riordan put the Buckeyes up 1-0 to start the third set. A huge block by Grimm kept Ohio State within one at 3-2 NKU. Grimm gave Ohio State the lead with another kill to make it 4-3. A pair of Norse attack errors put the Buckeyes up 7-4. More attack errors by the Norse allowed Ohio State to widen the gap at 12–8. Another powerful kill by Wetzel put the Buckeyes up 17-12. Ohio State built a 21-14 lead to force the Norse to call a timeout. A great pass by Ian Nolte and set by Christian Teresi gave Pickering the foundation for another massive kill to make it 24-17. Ohio State took set three to close out the match, 25-18.

Next Up:
Ohio State returns to the Covelli Center in Columbus for a Sunday battle with Central State. Match time is set for 3 p.m. with B1G+ providing the live stream.