Ohio (10-12, 6-5 Mid-American Conference) has had a consistent back-and-forth start in MAC play, going 1-1 each weekend of its conference schedule. Ohio, who recorded a solo win against Kent State last Tuesday, is barely above .500, placing it eighth in the conference.
Two wins against Central Michigan this weekend (18-5, 9-2 MAC), alongside 0-2 weekends from two of Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, would propel Ohio back into MAC Tournament contention, but it is an uphill battle.
Here’s everything to know before the weekend.
Series Information
Opponent: Central Michigan
Location: The Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
Times: Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
Where to Watch: ESPN+
History: 11-4 in favor of Ohio
Follow live stats here.
Central Michigan Notes
Central Michigan is the top team in the MAC, holding a better overall record than Bowling Green, who shares a 9-2 conference record.
The Chippewas’ calling card is their versatility. While you won’t find one player dominating in a stat category like Ohio with the MAC’s leader in kills, Kam Hunt, you’ll find multiple players boasting large totals in different categories. Central Michigan has three players with over 200 kills, two with over 200 assists, six players with double-digit service aces and four with over 175 digs.
Ohio Notes
The Bobcats have been good enough to stay in contention for a MAC Tournament spot, but not good enough to separate themselves from a contested crowd of teams from four to eight. A best-case scenario for Ohio would propel it to fourth in the conference. A worst-case scenario will keep the team at eighth, with an improbable climb into the postseason.
Ohio will look for big contributions from two of the MAC’s top five in kills, Hunt and Anna Kharchynska, as it fights to keep playing into late November.
Player to Watch (Central Michigan): Grace Thomas
The 6-foot-1 freshman middle blocker for the Chippewas has had a dominant season. While there’s no focal point for the Central Michigan offense, Thomas is as close as it gets. Her 162 kills rank fourth on the team, while her 81.0 blocks rank first. Thomas has also added 35 digs and eight service aces allowing her to have played all but three sets for the Chippewas.
