Vera Giacomazzi wiped away tears as she hugged Ohio coach Deane Webb and listened to cheers from her teammates before Ohio’s final home match of the regular season.
Tuesday was senior night for Ohio.
In her final match in The Convo, Giacomazzi boosted the Bobcats’ offense while simultaneously aiding the defense, leading them to a 3-1 win (25-23, 25-13, 24-26, 25-23) over Kent State (12-7, 12-7 Mid-American Conference). She finished with 47 assists as well as a team-high 13 digs throughout the match.
“Her ability to see the other side, see what the blockers are doing and to make decisions based on that is exceptional and always been that way,” Webb said. “I can’t take any credit for that.”
Tuesday was an emotional night for Giacomazzi, who reflected on her past four years with the Bobcats (10-7, 10-7 MAC). Throughout her career at Ohio, she has stood above the rest. She won MAC Setter of the Year twice, once in 2017 and again in 2019. In her freshman season, she earned All-MAC First Team honors and was named to the All-MAC freshman team. In her junior season, she accumulated 1,352 assists, led in the MAC in assists per set and was 13th in the nation in total assists.
Giacomazzi’s place on Ohio’s roster will be difficult to fill.
“I was a little tense,” Giacomazzi said. “It was very emotional at the beginning for sure and very emotional at the end, too.”
Giacomazzi means the world to Ohio, and Ohio means the world to her. Looking back, Giacomazzi is thankful for her time with Ohio and wouldn’t change it for anything.
“This team was basically my life for the past four years,” Giacomazzi said. “When you move so far away from your family, these people take care of you, and you start learning how to take care of them and bonds create. There are going to be lows and highs, tears and laughs, but you share everything with them.”
Not only is Giacomazzi family to the Bobcats, but she is also a leader to them as well. She is someone who her teammates can look up to, and Webb said she is well-respected among the roster.
“She’s a kid that works hard in the weight room and works hard in the gym every day,” Webb said. “And so with that level of work, you get respect from your peers, and she deserves that.”
Giacomazzi will play in her final series for the Bobcats on March 26-27 against Northern Illinois.
