For the first time this season, Ohio was swept in straight sets, which resulted in the Bobcats being ousted by Michigan State in a first round NCAA Tournament matchup.
Ohio (27-6) battled during each of the three sets, as they only dropped each one by six points or less, but Michigan State’s two leading hitters proved to be too much for Ohio to handle on Saturday.
“Hats off to Michigan State,” coach Ryan Theis said. “I thought (Lauren) Wicinski and (Alexis) Matthews played like seniors who wanted to advance, and they did.”
Wicinski led the floor with 16 kills, nine digs and four aces, while Matthews put together 10 kills and five block assists.
Ohio was without freshman outside hitter Mallory Salis, as she was ruled out with a concussion, so the Bobcats experienced a lineup change in the back row. Freshman outside hitter Katie Horton was used around the floor in several situations, including on the back line, which she wasn’t used to.
“I think Katie had a great game today,” sophomore setter Abby Gilleland said. “She was a great go-to on the outside and she stepped up and did something different in the back row. I thought that was huge for her.”
Horton led the Bobcats offensively with 12 kills and eight digs, while junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti recorded 10 kills on 32 attempts.
Michigan State’s height proved to be a factoring decision in Saturday’s match. The Spartans out-blocked the Bobcats by an 11-2 margin.
“They’re a big-physical team. I think it’s a strength of theirs” Theis said. “They’ve done a good job of bringing in big physical players that can block. If you hit their hands it’s going to be a point one way or another and I thought they did a great job of getting us tonight.”
Although the loss ends the season and continues Ohio’s four-year drought from the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Bobcats were still very proud of what they have accomplished this season, as the future is set up with young talent.
“One of our goals from the beginning of the season was to make it to December,” Alexis Pinson, a graduate student middle blocker, said. “Once we got here our goal was to keep playing through and we just fell short today. I’m proud of the season we’ve had and so grateful for this experience.”
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