It is obvious that the Ohio and Northern Illinois volleyball teams are similar on paper. But after Friday night, it will be very obvious which team is better on the court.
Both have two outside hitters who are among their team's leaders in kills, and both have freshmen liberos who have made significant contributions to two strong records. The two teams also sit next to each other in blocks, kills, digs and service aces per game on the Mid-American Conference statistic sheet. But what is different is the amount of experience each team, as a whole, has in important games.
Ohio (12-3 overall, 3-0 MAC) returns all six starters from a year ago, while only three return to Northern Illinois (14-3, 3-2 MAC). Ohio middle blocker Laura Hageman said that the previous big game experience that the Bobcats have had will be valuable.
Having a lot of juniors and seniors on the court
we know how it (big games) has been and have dealt with it before Hageman said. If we know there's a freshman or sophomore on the other team we're not afraid to point them out. Just go after them and get in their head.
Prime targets will be Northern Illinois setter Marie Zidek, a sophomore, who has moved from libero to setter and now leads the team with 11.85 assists per game, and libero Gina Guide, a freshman, who averages 3.51 kills per game.
Guide will have her hands full with shots from Hageman, the reigning Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week. She averages 4.06 kpg and gets offensive help from outside hitters Lindsay Judice and Holly Schetzsle, who both hit more than .270.
Ohio is an experienced team that is very physical and efficient
Northern Illinois coach Ray Gooden said. They've got kids who attack the ball and put up a good block.
The Huskies outside hitters are also known for their offense. Tera Lobdell and Brooke Dodson average 4.12 kpg and 3.52 kpg, respectively.
They've got a lot of weapons
Ohio coach Geoff Carlston said. There's no one you can just leave
so we're going to have to make choices and outwork them on the defensive end.
Ohio takes the court against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday in The Convo.
Volleyball match time change
To accommodate the Michelle Branch concert Saturday night in The Convo, the Ohio Athletics Department announced that the volleyball game between Ohio and Central Michigan (7-10, 1-3 MAC) has been moved to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Ohio outside hitter Katie Smith said she is looking forward to playing in front of a supportive home crowd, much like the crowd during last week's Miami game.
It's such a fun surrounding to be in
Smith said. The girls are doing cheers
and when we get kills
people get excited. Once you come see a match
you'll keep coming back.
Ohio is listed No. 33 in the Oct. 6 AVCA/USA Today Top 25 poll
The Bobcats are riding a 10-match winning streak.
Last meeting: Northern Illinois defeated Ohio 3-0 in DeKalb, Ill. last season.
Ohio is 3-12 all-time against Northern Illinois
