Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
6-3
Ohio State
6-3
Musketeers Drop Five-Set Thriller To Buckeyes
09.13.14 | Volleyball
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
CINCINNATI - The Xavier volleyball team dropped its final match of the Millennium Hotel Invitational to Ohio State, 3-2, Saturday night at Cintas Center. Senior setter Aubree Smith was one kill short of a triple-double with nine kills, 42 assists and 11 digs."We showed flashes of being very good tonight," stated head coach Mike Johnson. "For the most part we handled the ball well and we came up with a number of big swings when we needed them. I know that flashes are not enough to get it done at the level we are going to. This team has all the makings to be something very special. If we can lock in over a long period of time, we are going to get there.
"Credit to Ohio State - they are a physical team and they played well in key moments. Brand new day tomorrow."
After being down 8-2 in the opening set, the Musketeers (6-3) composed themselves to go on a 16-6 run. Within that run Smith had a five-point service run of her own to allow Xavier to take the lead (12-11). Middle blocker Alex Blair put down a set-high seven kills to assist in Xavier taking the first set, 25-17.
The Musketeers started down 3-0 in set two, but were able to regain composure to bring the set within one on a service ace by Jesse Earl that capped a 4-0 run. Xavier was able to tie Ohio State three times late in the set, but did not have enough to gain the lead despite keeping the entire set within only four points.
The last tie the set had was at 20-20, but Ohio State's Taylor Sandboothe put down a kill that allowed the Buckeyes to take a lead they would not relinquish. As a team, Ohio State recorded a .593 hitting percentage, the highest single-set hitting percentage of any team on the night. Ohio State would take the set, 25-21.
Ohio State took the momentum from set two into set three, winning the set, 25-19. Xavier did not go down without a fight as the set featured eight ties. After being tied for the last time at 11-11, Ohio State pulled away with a 14-8 run to capture the set.
The fourth set was back-and-forth as neither team led by more than four points. With the set tied at 24-24, Blair posted a kill before a Buckeye attacking error gave Xavier the set, 26-24.
A Mackenzi Humm service ace gave Xavier an early 1-0 lead in the final set before the Buckeyes went on a 5-1 run. The Musketeers got within two (11-9) late in the set, but Ohio State closed the frame on a 4-2 run to win the match.
Blair tied her career-high in kills (14) to go along with a .500 attack percentage while Abbey Bessler added a team-high 15 kills. Sofia Peterson accounted for more than half of Xavier's blocks with six out of the 11 recorded.
Bessler earned a spot on the all-tournament team with her performance this weekend. The outside hitter led the team with 42 kills over tournament play while adding 26 digs, seven service aces and five assists.
The Musketeers went 1-2 in tournament play and travel up I-75 on Tuesday to take on longtime rival the Flyers of Dayton at 7 p.m. Before the match, Dayton will honor all of its volleyball All-Americans that includes Xavier associate head coach Christy Pfeffenberger.
MILLENNIUM HOTEL INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kelly Lamberti, Ohio (MVP)
Abbey Gilleland, Ohio
Merdith Ashy, Ohio
Taylor Sandboothe, Ohio State
Erin Sekinger, Ohio State
Abbey Bessler, Xavier
Lindsay McCabe, Syracuse
