No. 7 Ohio State Prevails Through Two Tight Sets for Road Sweep
10/8/2021 9:11:29 PM | Women's Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team (13-2, 3-2 Big) earned the sweep (26-24, 28-26, 25-18) against Michigan State (8-6, 1-4 Big) on the road on Friday evening.
How it Happened
Michigan State was first on the board and jumped out to an early 6-3 lead. Ohio State responded with six-consecutive points to take a 9-6 lead. The Buckeyes held the 13-10 advantage, but the Spartans would take a 14-13 lead with four points in a row. Back-to-back OSU points gave Ohio State the 18-16 lead to force a MSU timeout. Michigan State would come back to tie the set at 21 and 22 before taking its first lead, 23-22, since 6-5. The Buckeyes tied the set at 23 and 24 before taking the set, 26-24, with back-to-back points.
The Spartans would score first again in the second set and once again led 6-3. MSU would extend is lead to 11-6 but a 7-2 OSU run tied the set at 13 to force a Spartans timeout. Ohio State took its first lead of the set at 16-15. The Spartans quickly responded to take a 19-17 advantage. The Buckeyes scored the next four points on the floor to take a 21-19 lead and force another MSU timeout. Michigan State tied the set at 24, 25 and 26. A kill from Emily Londot and a service ace by Kylie Murr gave the Buckeyes a 2-0 set lead.
Ohio State scored first on a kill by Mia Grunze as the teams traded points for much of the beginning of the third set. After the Buckeyes lead 8-7, the Spartans scored the next four to take a 11-8 lead. OSU responded with its own 4-0 run, including three blocks, to take the lead back. The teams were tied at 12 but back-to-back Buckeye points gave Ohio State a narrow lead. A block by Mia Grunze forced a Spartans timeout with the Buckeyes leading 18-15. MSU scored the next point but would get no closer than two points as OSU closed out the match with a kill from Gabby Gonzales, followed by a block by Londot and Rylee Rader.
Highlights
S1: Mac Podraza/Rylee Rader block
S1: Set point (Emily Londot/Rylee Rader block)
S2: Mac Podraza’s 2,000th career assist
S2: Set point (Kylie Murr ace)
S3: Mac Podraza/Rylee Rader block
S3: Match point (Emily Londot/Rylee Rader block)
Match Notes
- Junior setter Mac Podraza became the 12th player in program history to reach 2,000 career assists, surpassing the mark with 38 assists in the match.
- Hannah Gruensfelder moved up to fifth in program history with 1,340 career digs.
- This is the 11th match that the Buckeye defense has limited its opponent to hitting less than .200 as the Spartans hit .147 on the match.
- Ohio State recorded 11 blocks, the sixth time this season the Buckeyes have had at least 10 blocks and the third time in a three-setter.
- This is the Buckeyes’ 10th sweep of the season.
- Arica Davis keeps her blocking streak alive, finishing with five blocks as she’s recorded at least two in every match.
- Emily Londot was the first to 10 kills on either team, recording double-figure kills for the 11th time this season. She led all players with 15 kills.
- Set one: The set featured 10 ties with neither team leading by more than three.
- Set one: The Buckeyes clinched the set with three-consecutive points, doing so on a block by Emily Londot and Rylee Rader.
- Set two: After being tied at one, the Spartans held the lead until the set was tied at 15. From there, the teams were tied six more times.
- Set three: The teams were tied at every point until four-straight MSU points gave the Spartans a 11-8 lead.
- Set three: Michigan State hit in the red (-.059) on the set.
Up Next
Ohio State returns home to host Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast live on BTN+ (subscription required). The Buckeyes welcome their alumni back to campus, recognizing them prior to the match and in between sets. Ohio State will also host a meet and greet following the match.
Single-match and season tickets for all home games are now on sale. Purchase today to see your Buckeyes inside Covelli this season.
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