Buckeyes Earn Third Big Ten Sweep, Take Care of Rutgers
The Buckeyes improved to 7-1 in the Big Ten with the sweep against the Scarlet Knights.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-5, 7-1 B1G) swept (25-13, 25-15, 25-14) Rutgers (7-13, 1-7 B1G) on Saturday evening inside the Covelli Center.
Ohio State used a pair of 4-0 runs to take early control of the first set, winning by a 25-13 margin with the final six points of the set. The Buckeyes scored the first two points of the second set and did not trail in the 25-15 set win. OSU did not trail in the third set to earn the 25-14 set win on a Rutgers service error.
How it Happened
Rutgers scored to open the match, but Ohio State had the next two to take a lead that would not be relinquished. The Scarlet Knights tied the set at two and three before a 4-0 OSU run made it 7-3. The Buckeyes strung together another four-unanswered points to extend to the lead to 11-5. Rutgers could not score more than three-consecutive points as Ohio State wrapped up a 25-13 set win with a 6-0 run.
The Buckeyes scored the first two points of the second set and never trailed, despite being tied early at two, three and seven. Ohio State responded with the next three points out of the 7-7 tie and traded two OSU points to one Rutgers point to extend the lead to 18-12. The Buckeyes used a 4-0 run and the final two points of the set to earn a 25-15 set win on a Rutgers error.
Ohio State again scored the first two points of the set and did not look back. The Buckeyes used a 4-0 run capped by an ace from Sarah Sue Morbitzer to force a Rutgers timeout leading 10-3. The teams traded points out of the timeout before a 5-0 Buckeyes run made it 20-9 and forced a second timeout by the Scarlet Knights. OSU capped a 25-14 set win on a Rutgers service error.
Highlights
Walk-out
S1: Jenaisya Moore kill
S1: Gabby Gonzales kill
S1: Mac Podraza/Adria Powell block
S2: Kylie Murr dig
S2: Jenaisya Moore/Rylee Rader block
S2: Set point
S3: Great play
S3: Emily Londot kill
S3: Gabby Gonzales kill
S3: Celebration
Match Notes
• Ohio State extended its win streak against Rutgers to 15 matches and improved the all-time record to 17-1.
• This is the seventh time in conference play that the Buckeye defense has forced their opponent to hit under .200 in the match and under .100 for the third time. The OSU defense forced Rutgers to hit under .100 in each of the three sets.
• This is the fifth time this season that Ohio State has hit at least .300 as a team. The Buckeyes hit better than .300 in every set.
• This is the Buckeyes’ fifth sweep of the season and third against a Big Ten opponent.
• OSU tied its season-high 10 blocks for the fourth time in conference play.
• Sarah Sue Morbitzer had a career-high four service aces.
• Sarah White saw her first collegiate action.
• Mac Podraza recorded her 200th career block.
• Kylie Murr recorded at least 10 digs for the 15th time this season, finishing with 18 digs.
• Gabby Gonzales reached the 10-kill plateau for the 10th time this season, finishing with 14 kills.
• Set one: Ohio State outhit Rutgers by a .321-.036 clip in the first set.
• Set two: The Buckeyes scored the first two points and never trailed.
• Set three: Ohio State did not trail.
What They Said
Head Coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg: “Defense is the heartbeat of our team and when we’re playing defense like that, it just fuels everybody else. I think that drives us to do better and motivates the hitters to work harder. When the defense is on their game, it just makes everything a bit easier for us.”
Setter Sarah White: “Our depth is incredible. I’m confident that any person on our bench could come in and make a difference. Our team does not decline whether or not someone is in – if anything it goes up. Everyone is in the gym working hard. We play six-on-six at the end of every practice for an hour or so and we’re competing super hard. That makes us better and ready for those game situations.”
Up Next
Ohio State continues its home stand on Wednesday, hosting Illinois for a 6 p.m. ET match on BTN.