The rivalry between Ohio (8-11, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) and Miami (7-13, 1-8 MAC) was in full force early when the two teams met Saturday. After a frustrating loss for Ohio against Ball State the day before, its rival provided a perfect opportunity to bounce back, with Ohio winning 3-1.
In the first set, Ohio's pressure was a driving factor.
Sophomore Kam Hunt continued her great play with five kills early in set one, extending Ohio’s lead to 16-9. Miami collected a block and forced a couple of errors from Ohio, decreasing the lead to 3.
Ohio returned the favor when junior Anna Kharchynska sent a Miami shot across the net to extend the lead back to 5 points. After the match, Kharchynska shared how playing through anger helped her unlock her best self on the court.
“When I’m pissed off, I’m really playing good,” Kharchynska said. “They were pissing me off today a lot, so I was just trying to make some kills.”
The set would finish strong as freshman Bryn Janke found Hunt to cap off a great first set, winning 25-19.
Making it happen all over the court, freshman Darbi Ricketts started the second set with back-to-back service aces. The resiliency of Ricketts is something Ohio coach Geoff Carlston and his coaching staff have looked to as they find new ways to use her and let her shine on the court.
“She’s been passing great, and then (the score is) 24-22 and she shanks her first ball, and it’s like ‘oh boy, OK,’” Carlston said. “Then they served to her again and she nailed the pass."
Some unforced errors by both teams slowed play as two points remained the difference early at 8-6. A few nice plays at the net by freshman Sierra Evans were a spark plug for Ohio as they were now leading 14-10.
Miami found a counter of its own, attacking the middle of the court, helping it cut Ohio’s lead to 20-18. It would come down to a battle of attrition as the first team to scratch home a two-point lead would capture this second set. Ohio found the run it needed to get the win and took the second set 26-24.
An aggressive RedHawks team came out strong to start the third set. The forcing of Bobcat errors led them out to an 8-5 lead.
Ohio could not seem to find the rhythm that bolstered its first two set wins as they trailed in the third, not being able to string points together to mount a comeback, now down 15-11. The Miami front line was like a brick wall and Ohio just could not break through as shots just kept getting sent back over the net, allowing Miami to build a 21-12 lead.
Miami’s lead had grown too big in the closing stages, and they wrapped up the third set with a 25-19 final score to extend the match. Ohio now looked to close it out up two sets to one.
The terrific outside hitter tandem of Kharchynska and Hunt played a big role early in the fourth set as Ohio tried to put it away, Kharchynska had two early kills to pair with Hunt’s pair of aces and three kills. Ohio led 10-5.
The RedHawks would not go away easily, however. They continued to put on the pressure and forced a couple of errors from the Bobcats to cut the lead to 2. Ohio needed someone to step up, and that is exactly what sophomore Olivia Gardner did with five big kills.
Ohio was leading 24-21, one point away from victory over Miami. Hunt would not let this one slip away as she spiked the final shot over the net, claiming her 15th kill of the night. With a boisterous cheer from the crowd, Ohio claimed the Battle of the Bricks. This was something all the team members held close to their hearts.
“This senior class has gone undefeated against Miami in their career here,” Carlston said. “I’m proud of the seniors.”
Ohio will stay home for a matchup with Kent State Tuesday at 6 p.m. before leaving Thursday for two matchups in two days against Eastern Michigan Friday and Saturday, looking to build on its success against Miami.
