COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 13 Ohio State (17-9, 9-3) earned its second-consecutive road victory with a 3-1 win at McKendree (6-13, 1-11) Saturday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon, Illinois. The Buckeyes downed the Bearcats earlier in the year at the Covelli Center, 3-1, to complete the season sweep.
With the win (25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24), Ohio State won its sixth-consecutive match, equaling the longest win streak for the Buckeyes since a 6-0 start to the 2020 season.
Jacob Pasteur led the way with 19 kills in the win. Michael Wright led the Buckeyes with 39 assists while Shane Wetzel posted a team best six digs.
Jacob Pasteur now has 986 career kills, good for the No. 17 spot all-time at Ohio State. Michael Henchy (2012-15) is next at No. 16 with 1,001 career kills.
Wright now has 1,595 career kills, No. 11 all-time at Ohio State behind No. 10 Todd Brooks (1989-92) with 1,672.
How it Happened
Set 1
McKendree began its senior night match by building an 8-5 lead over the visiting Buckeyes. The Bearcats remained in control in building a 13-9 advantage after a 3-1 run. Ohio State then went on a 5-1 run to tie the match at 14-all. The teams traded points with Ohio State taking its first lead at 20-19 on a block by Justin Howard, Jacob Pasteur and Shane Wetzel. McKendree called a timeout after a Wetzel kill put Ohio State up 21-20. Pasteur then got an ace before another Wetzel kill put the Buckeyes up 23-20. A Pasteur ace made it 24-20 before Ohio State took the set 25-21 on a McKendree error. The Buckeyes hit .458 in the opener with Wetzel leading the way with six kills while hitting .750.
S1| Another Jacob Pasteur ace!!! Buckeyes at set point 24-20. pic.twitter.com/hCtEf6WLXF
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) April 1, 2023
S1| Wetzel with the block to put the Buckeyes in the lead 20-19! pic.twitter.com/31kzZY3jS5
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) April 1, 2023
Set 2
The Bearcats built a quick 5-1 lead before Ohio State used a 5-1 run to tie the set at 6-all. The Buckeyes took their first lead at 10-9 on a Pasteur kill. The Bearcats tied it at 11-all. The teams then went back-and-forth with McKendree taking its first lead (17-16) since it led 9-8. Ohio State called timeout but the Bearcats scored the next two points to lead 19-16. With the score in favor of McKendree 23-20, Ohio State called, its final timeout of the set, and made it 24-23 Bearcats before McKendree called timeout. Pasteur then tied it at 24-all with a kill before a Jack Stevens kill put Ohio State in the lead, 25-24. Pasteur then completed the comeback with a kill for a 26-24 win. Ohio State finished the set on a 5-0 run to earn the win. Pasteur led both teams with 11 kills after two.
S2| Pasteur with the kill to put the Buckeyes ahead 15-13! pic.twitter.com/0OikThMu8X
— OSU Men's Volleyball (@OhioStateMVB) April 1, 2023
Set 3
A pair of Cole Young kills put Ohio State up 3-1 before a 4-0 run by the Bearcats put McKendree on top 7-5. The Buckeyes called timeout after the Bearcats used a 3-1 run to take a 12-8 lead. McKendree kept up the pressure, leading to another Ohio State timeout with the Bearcats leading 16-9. A Michael Wright kill made it 19-10 McKendree ending a 9-1 run by the Bearcats. Ohio State went on a 5-1 run to make it 22-16 Bearcats, forcing a McKendree timeout. The Bearcats called another timeout after the Buckeyes made it 24-20 after a 3-0 run. McKendree then finished off the set to earn the 25-20 win.
Set 4
McKendree kept up its momentum in building a 4-1 lead to start the fourth set. A Samuel Clark kill cut into the Bearcats 8-7 lead. McKendree then went on a 4-0 run to build a 12-7 lead. The Buckeyes put together a 4-1 run to make it 14-12 Bearcats. McKendree called timeout with a 16-14 lead. The Buckeyes closed to within one point several times before tying the match at 19-all after a McKendree error. The teams began traded points. The Buckeyes took a 24-23 lead, their first of the set, ahead of a Bearcat timeout. McKendree tied it up at 24-all before scored the next two to win the set, 26-24, and the match 3-1.
Up Next
The Buckeyes return to Columbus for the final home matches of the season against Purdue Fort Wayne April 6 (7 p.m.) and against No. 10 Loyola Chicago April 8 (4 p.m.). Ohio State will celebrate its seniors in the match against the Ramblers. Samuel Clark, Michael Wright and Jack Stevens will be honored following the match.
#GoBucks
