After dominating Kent State last week to clinch the Mid-American Conference Tournament’s top seed, Ohio will begin its quest for a championship against the Golden Flashes on Friday.
Top-seeded Ohio (24-4, 14-2 MAC) will take the floor with No. 8 Kent State at noon at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio. The Bobcats defeated the Golden Flashes in a straight-set sweep Nov. 14, but were knocked out of the top 25 by Kent State in October.
“(Kent State) just saw what we did well, they basically saw a pretty good offensive night (from us),” coach Ryan Theis said. “They’re probably going to try and prepare a slightly different way for us. They’ll have one or two players back that they didn’t have in the lineup (last Thursday).”
Ohio ranks first in the MAC and 26th in the nation in hitting percentage (.263), while the Bobcats’ front line ranks 12th in the NCAA in blocks per set (2.83).
Kent State (12-17, 6-10 MAC) lost eight of its last 10 matches of the season, including the Golden Flashes’ final four matches.
Kent State sophomore outside hitter Kelly Hutchinson recorded 22 kills during Kent State’s 3-1 victory against Ohio last month, but didn’t play in the Bobcats’ victory last week, though she is expected to play Friday.
“We need to find where she is, keep trying to dig her and block her a few times,” Ohio sophomore libero Meredith Ashy said. “I don’t know if she has it in her to get 22 kills again against us, but we will need to make sure to find her on the court.”
Ashy has recorded double-digit digs in 26 of Ohio’s 28 matches, while ranking ninth in the MAC with 4.70 digs per set during conference play.
During 14 of its 16 MAC contests, Ohio limited its opposition to a hitting percentage of 20 percent or less and leads the MAC in opponent hitting percentage in conference play.
Ohio, which is 44-23 all-time against Kent State and 11-1 under Theis, will look to take its momentum from its eight-match winning streak into the weekend.
“Winning the (regular season) conference title doesn’t get us into the NCAA Tournament, which is our ultimate goal,” sophomore setter Abby Gilleland said.
“It’s great, but it has to be in the back of our minds now. Winning the MAC Tournament is going to be what gets us to where we want to be.”
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This article appeared in print under the headline "Target On Their Backs."
