Ohio State Sweeps No. 10 Minnesota on the Road
The Buckeyes earned their fourth top-10 win of the season on Wednesday night.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-5, 6-1 B1G) swept (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) No. 10 Minnesota (9-6, 4-3 B1G) on the road on Wednesday night inside the Maturi Pavilion.
Ohio State scored the first four points of the match and held the lead throughout the first set, taking it by a 25-20 margin. The second set was closer to begin but the Buckeyes took a lead into the media timeout that wouldn’t be relinquished, earning the 25-21 set win. The Gophers cut the Buckeyes’ lead down to one point late, but OSU prevailed 25-22 for the sweep.
How it Happened
Ohio State scored the first four points of the match, but Minnesota responded with the next three. A 3-0 run gave the Buckeyes the 10-6 advantage. The Gophers chipped away to get within one at 14-13 and the Buckeyes held a narrow 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Ohio State forced a Minnesota timeout following back-to-back kills from Emily Londot and Jenaisya Moore as the Buckeyes led by a 20-17 margin. A block from Mac Podraza and Rylee Rader prompted a second Gophers timeout as OSU led 23-19. Ohio State sealed the 25-20 set win with a dump kill from Podraza.
Minnesota scored the first three points of the second set, but Ohio State was able to tie the set at three and take its first lead of the set at 5-4. The Gophers tied the set three times before taking the lead back at 11-10. OSU immediately regained the lead and scored three-straight points leading into the media timeout with the 15-12 advantage. A block from Gabby Gonzales and Podraza forced a Minnesota timeout as Ohio State extended its lead to 19-14. The Buckeyes led 20-14 out of the timeout but the Gophers cut the lead to 22-18 before a successful OSU challenge. Minnesota fought off the first two OSU set points, but the Buckeyes earned the 25-21 set win.
Ohio State scored first in the third set and used a 4-0 run to take an early 5-1 lead. The Buckeyes then scored three-unanswered points, forcing a Gophers timeout with OSU in front by an 8-2 mark. Ohio State led by as much as 10-3 before Minnesota put together a 4-0 run of its own, its longest of the match, to trim the lead to 10-7 and force an OSU timeout. The teams traded points out of the timeout before an ace from Kylie Murr gave the Buckeyes a 15-10 lead and a successful challenge extended the difference to 16-10. Minnesota called timeout with Ohio State ahead 17-10. The Gophers scored twice out of the timeout and got the margin down to 18-14, but a 4-0 OSU run gave the Buckeyes the 22-14 lead. Minnesota responded with a 4-0 run of its own to trim the lead to 22-18 and force an Ohio State timeout. The Gophers extended their run out of the timeout, cutting the Buckeye lead to 22-20 and then to one at 23-22. Ohio State won the match on a block from Powell and Londot.
Highlights
S1: Adria Powell/Emily Londot block
S1: Emily Londot kill
S1: Jenaisya Moore kill
S1: Emily Londot kill
S1: Mac Podraza/Rylee Rader block
S1: Set point
S2: Adria Powell kill
S2: Emily Londot kill
S2: Jenaisya Moore block
S2: Kylie Murr/Sarah Sue Morbitzer defense
S2: Set point
S3: Rylee Rader kill
S3: Rylee Rader block
S3: Kylie Murr ace
S3: Jenaisya Moore kill
S3: Gabby Gonzales 1000th career kill
S3: Match point
Match Notes
• Gabby Gonzales became the 23rd player in program history to record 1,000 career kills after beginning the night with 994 kills in her Buckeye career.
• The Buckeye defense has forced its opponent to hit under .200 in six of seven conference matches and under .100 in two conference matches.
• This is Ohio State’s fourth time sweeping an opponent this season and the second time against a Big Ten opponent.
• Emily Londot was the first in the match to reach 10 kills, doing so before the second set’s media timeout. This is her 14th match of the season with at least 10 kills as she finished with 13 tonight.
• Kylie Murr recorded at least 10 digs for the 14th time this season, totaling 14 digs tonight.
• Jenaisya Moore totaled at least 10 kills for the 10th time this season, finishing with 11 kills.
• Set one: Ohio State hit .433 in the set while limiting Minnesota to .139.
• Set two: The set featured eight ties and three lead changes.
• Set three: Ohio State strung together three separate 4-0 runs in the set.
Up Next
Ohio State returns home for a four-match homestand beginning on Saturday against Rutgers. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on B1G+.