Ohio Volleyball Defeats Eastern Michigan, 3-0
ATHENS, Ohio (September 23, 2000) -- Senior outside hitter Kris Whitfield recorded 20 kills and hit .357 and three other Bobcats tallied 12 kills each as Ohio defeated Eastern Michigan 15-6, 16-14, 15-12 at the Convocation Center Saturday night. With the win, the Bobcats equal their victory total for the entire 1999 season (9-21) and open the conference season 2-0 for the first time in school history.
Amber Merrill, Lori McColl and Laura Hageman reached double digits in kills, while Michelle Gil added 49 assists and 17 digs. McColl, Merrill and Whitfield joined Gil with double-doubles by hitting the mark in digs. Jennifer Nighswander led the Eagles (2-11, 1-1) with 13 kills, while Sara Schaub added 11.
Ohio scored the first seven points of the match enroute to a 15-6 opening-game win. The second started 6-2 in favor of the hosts, but Eastern Michigan rallied to take an 11-10 lead. Ohio trailed 14-12 when Whitfield took the service line and secured four straight points for a 16-14 win.
The Bobcats built leads of 4-0 and 7-1 in the final game, but the Eagles tied the score at 11 with a 10-4 run. However, Ohio scored back-to-back points, then answered an EMU point with another pair to take the victory.
Ohio now hits the road for a pair of league matches next weekend. The Bobcats will be at Toledo and Northern Illinois on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
