Buckeyes Handle Scarlet Knights in Straight Sets
Ohio State had a season-high 10 service aces
Â
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team got back in the win column with a straight-set victory (25-14, 25-23, 25-18) over Rutgers Friday night inside College Ave Gym. The Buckeyes improve to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten while the Scarlet Knights drop to 6-10 on the year and 0-5 in conference action.
After being sidelined by an injury over the last month, Jenaisya Moore returned to the lineup and hit .348 with 10 kills, four digs and a career-high four service aces. Gabby Gonzales connected on nine of her 16 attempts with just one error for a .500 clip. Madison Smeathers and Jordan Fry had five kills apiece.
Becca Mauer tallied 32 assists, six digs, two kills and season-high three aces. Elle Sandbothe paired a career-high two aces with four kills and four digs while Kylie Murr had 12 digs. As a team, Ohio State had its best showing on the service line with 10 aces.
SET 1: The Buckeyes scored the first four points of the match, highlighted by a pair of aces from Moore. A Sandbothe-Moore rejection sent the Scarlet Knights to their bench down 11-4. Ohio State used a timeout at the 19-11 mark before cruising to a 25-14 triumph.
SET 2: Rutgers had a 12-7 lead early in the frame. Ohio State put together a 5-0 run for a 15-14 edge. The Scarlet Knights regained the advantage, 20-18, but kills by Moore and Fry tied the score at 20-all. The teams traded points before Moore and Gonzales laid down kills for a 25-23 tally.
Â
SET 3: It was a back and forth battle to get the set going. The Buckeyes had a slight 13-11 lead after two kills by Gonzales. Rutgers needed a break as it trailed 18-15. Ohio State closed the set on a 7-3 run to seal a 25-18 win.
UP NEXT
Â
The Buckeyes head to University Park, Pa. to take on No. 8 Penn State Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.