Women’s Volleyball Extends Losing Streak To 12, Swept By Wisconsin, Rutgers
For the 9th and 10th time this season, Ohio State’s women’s volleyball team could not muster a set.
Ohio State fell to Rutgers (11-13, 2-10 Big Ten) in straight sets (17-25, 17-25, 19-25) Friday night at the Covelli Center.
The Buckeyes struggled offensively once again, despite 12 more attempts, the Buckeyes connected on just nine percent of its attacks, compared to the Scarlet Knights mark of nearly 30 percent.
Ohio State’s Mia Tuman reached a personal milestone in the loss, earning her 2,600th career assist. The junior setter led the Buckeyes with 24 assists Friday.
In the Buckeyes’ second match of the weekend Ohio State was swept (14-25, 12-25, 14-25) by No. 12 Wisconsin (16-4, 9-3 Big Ten) Sunday at the Covelli Center.
For the second straight game Ohio State was dominated offensively, despite totaling more attack attempts (90-83). Wisconsin connected on a whopping 45.8 percent of its attacks compared to the Buckeyes conversion rate of 7.8 percent. The Badgers recorded 44 kills to Ohio State’s 23, while committing just six attack errors to the Buckeyes 16.
Tuman provided the lone bright spot of the outing, surpassing former Buckeye Marlene O’Brien for the 11th spot on Ohio State’s career assists list. Her 16 assists versus Wisconsin brought her career total to 2,627.
Ohio State (3-17, 0-12 Big Ten) will face off against Maryland (8-14, 1-11 Big Ten), at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Stephen M. Schanwald Pavilion at the XFINITY Center.
Women’s Ice Hockey Sweeps St. Thomas, Extends Winning Streak To Four
No. 2 Ohio State (9-1-0, 7-1-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) earned a 3-2 overtime win over No. 13 St. Thomas (7-5-0, 2-4-0 WCHA) Friday before rolling past the Tommies 8-0 Saturday.
In the first game of the series, the Buckeyes never led until the game’s final play. St. Thomas opened the game with a goal 43 seconds into the first period by freshman forward Whitney Horton, before Ohio State freshman forward Hilda Svensson equalized the game with three minutes to go in the opening frame.
Following a goal by Tommies sophomore forward Chloe Boreen midway through the final period, Svensson tied the game again on a 6-on-4 power play with 2:14 remaining in the contest.
Just under two minutes into overtime, freshman forward Sanni Vanhanen finished an attack off a feed from sophomore forward Sara Swiderski to give Ohio State the 3-2 victory.
Ohio State freshman goaltender Taylor Kressin finished with a career-high 15 saves in her second straight start.
However, unlike its game prior, Ohio State’s win Saturday was never in doubt.
Junior forward Joy Dunne opened the scoring late in the first period, before erupting for four goals for the Buckeyes. Vanhanen added a goal and two assists, and 11 different Buckeyes recorded a point as Ohio State outshot the Tommies 45-20.
Kressin stopped all 20 shots she faced for her first career shutout, improving her record to 3-0-0.
With the back-to-back wins, the Buckeyes now remain a perfect 20-0-0 in their all-time series with St. Thomas.
Ohio State returns home to face Minnesota State (6-5-1, 2-5-1 WCHA) Nov. 14-15 at the OSU Ice Rink.
Women’s Soccer Falls To Illinois In First Round Of Big Ten Tournament
No. 9 seed Illinois (13-5-2, 5-4-2 Big Ten) defeated No. 8 seed Ohio State (8-4-6, 4-2-5 Big Ten) 1-0 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament Thursday.
Illinois senior forward Lia Howard gave the Illini a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute after she stole an Ohio State pass and put the ball behind Buckeye goalkeeper Molly Pritchard.
Despite the loss, Ohio State outshot Illinois 22-10, and tallied 11 shots on goal to the Illini’s four. Pritchard had three saves for the Buckeyes.
Illinois redshirt junior goalie Izzy Lee set a career-high with 11 saves against the Buckeyes, pitching a shutout for the 10th time this season — the third most in a single-season in program history.
Ohio State must now wait to see if it’s selected into the NCAA tournament, although with the loss, it’s uncertain the Buckeyes make it into the field of 64. The NCAA selection show is set for Nov. 10 at 4 p.m.
Field Hockey Falls In OT To Iowa in Season Finale
Ohio State didn’t have the senior day it expected, as the Buckeyes closed out the regular season with their fourth straight loss.
In the Buckeyes regular season finale, No. 10 Iowa (12-4, 5-3 Big Ten) defeated Ohio State (7-9, 3-5 Big Ten) 3-2 in double overtime Friday at Buckeye Varsity Field on the back of a hat-trick by junior Dionne van Aalsum.
Iowa jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals in the ninth and 35th minute by van Aalsum.
However, Ohio State didn’t waiver. The Buckeyes cut the lead to one just three minutes later after graduate forward Makenna Webster and junior midfielder Anne Marie Krebs assisted senior back Katie Fitchner. Krebs then netted the equalizer to tie the game at two with 12 minutes into the period.
Though after two scoreless periods, it was the Hawkeyes that had the last laugh. Just under five minutes into second overtime, van Aaslum put in the game winning goal to give Iowa a 3-2 victory over Ohio State.
The star midfielder van Aaslum, leads the nation in both points per game (3.38) and goals per game (1.63).
Despite the loss Ohio State held a 17-15 advantage over Iowa on total shots, while taking nine shots on target to the Hawkeyes’ eight.
Ohio State will now turn its attention to the postseason, when the No. 7 seeded Buckeyes travels to Bloomington, Ind. to take on No. 2 seed Maryland (10-7, 5-3 Big Ten) Thursday at 5 p.m.
Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
