University of Illinois
#19 Ohio State
November 25, 2006 | Volleyball
Nov. 25, 2006
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Illinois volleyball team closed out its season with a loss to Ohio State on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio at St John Arena. In the two team's first meeting earlier this season, Illinois dethroned then No. 16-ranked OSU convincingly in three straight, but tonight belonged to the No. 19-ranked Buckeyes, as the Illini could not overcome a potent Ohio State offense combined with its thin and injury-ridden lineup.
The Illini were led by the efforts of freshman Kylie McCulley, who pounded down 12 kills, while senior Meghan Macdonald registered a .615 hitting percentage behind eight kills on 13 attempts. Defensively, freshman Ashley Edinger picked up nine digs in the loss, while senior Stephanie Obermeier ran the offense, collecting 31 assists on the night. Junior Vicki Brown controlled the front line for the Illinois with three total blocks to lead all players in the contest.
Early in game one, Illinois seemed to be controlling the pace and applying the pressure as they stayed with Ohio State at 9-9. Neither team could take a hold in the contest, while the Illini offense continued to connect at the net as Amy Palash, who finished with five kills, and Brown, who put down eight on the night, kept Illinois in the thick of things at 16-16. Fighting until the end, Macdonald contributed her signature presence at the net to tie the game again at 22 off a block. However, the Buckeyes would string together a late-game run to close the affair 30-26, setting a dominating tone heading into game two.
It seemed Illini's thin bench and lineup would catch up with them in the second game, as Ohio State connected on all cylinders to take an early 12-5 lead. The Fighting Illini did all they could to keep up with the Buckeye offense that registered an unstoppable .655 attack percentage en route to a 30-13 game-two victory.
In game three, Illinois returned to form and brought Ohio State back down to size to open the contest with a quick 6-4 lead. The Illini continued to hold the lead at 14-13, but the Buckeyes would tie the match at 14 before taking the lead for good. The story for OSU would be there defense, with Ashley Kiel leading the way with a match-high 16 digs of Ohio State's 43 pickups on the night, compared to just 34 for the Orange and Blue.
The night marked the last match for Illinois' senior class of Macdonald, Obermeier and Beth Vrdsky. Vrdsky, who suffered an injury in Illinois' loss to Purdue, saw limited action carding just one dig in the match. Obermeier chipped in two kills to go with seven digs in her last outing for the Fighting Illini, while Macdonald pounded down eight.
