For the second consecutive weekend, Ohio swept a pair of matches against Mid-American Conference opponents, which included a roller-coaster win against Buffalo on Saturday.
The Bobcats (20-4, 10-2 MAC) defeated MAC East opponents in The Convo on Friday against Akron and Saturday versus Buffalo. Ohio won the first two sets Saturday but dropped the third set in sudden death by a score of 30-28.
However, the Bobcats rallied back and took the fourth set 27-25, which was also in sudden death.
“If we’re putting everything out there, then we know if we play our best we will win,” said Brooke Coleman, a freshman defensive specialist.
The win against Buffalo gave Ohio its 20th win of the season for a program-record 12th consecutive season.
Junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti did not play against Akron because of an ankle injury, but she returned to the floor and started against Buffalo. She notched a team-high 15 kills and 15 digs, which was good for her 13th double-double of the season, which leads the team.
“We hoped she could rest (Friday) and that worked,” Ohio coach Ryan Theis said. “(Saturday) the plan was to start her and we did. We’ll take (her performance) almost any day coming off a bad ankle.”
Buffalo gave Ohio another challenging matchup by taking the Bobcats to four sets for the second time this season, but Ohio edged Buffalo in blocking 12-11, which wasn’t the case when the two teams met last.
“(Buffalo) is a really strong, physical team,” said Alexis Pinson, a graduate student middle blocker. “We used our hands and found other open areas on the court (to avoid the blocks).”
Coleman notched a career-high 22 digs Saturday and was surrounded by three teammates who added double-digit digs in the victory.
“Having three others that are really good at passing (helps),” Coleman said. “I can then play my position better knowing that they will be there.”
Sophomore setter Abby Gilleland recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 53 assists and 13 digs Saturday. She totaled 86 assists and 18 digs this weekend.
Also leading the Bobcats this weekend was sophomore libero Meredith Ashy, who totaled 42 digs, and redshirt junior outside hitter Liis Kullerkann, who notched 21 kills.
Ohio now has just four matches remaining before the MAC Tournament and is still tied with Ball State for first place in the conference. However, the Bobcats lead the MAC East by two matches.
“We need to play every single point as hard as we possibly can,” Pinson said. “No team in the MAC is going to every roll over and give us (the match).”
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