In nearly a three-hour match, the Indiana volleyball team defeated Ohio State in five sets on Saturday.
The Buckeyes outhit the Hoosiers .241-.181, but the Hoosiers’ defense ended up being the factor in this match. The defense notched more blocks and aces during the match to secure the win.
“I thought we fought hard,” freshman libero Ramsey Gary said. “I don’t think this was our night, but we fought hard, stayed together and pushed through it.”
The Hoosiers moved to a 16-7 overall record and 6-4 in the Big Ten this year, matching the program’s best ever 10-game start to conference play back in 1985. Indiana has an 8-1 record at Wilkinson Hall.
The 16 wins this season with 10 matches to go tied the most under head coach Steve Aird’s tenure with Hoosiers, notching 16 in 2018 and 2022. The loss by the Buckeyes was the first to an unranked opponent this season.
Gary put on a defensive clinic as she dug a career-high 26 balls throughout the night. Her 26 matched the program's rally-era freshman single game record. The rally-era scoring method has been used since 2001 and the record was originally held by libero Juli Pierce back in 2004.
Junior setter Camryn Haworth had 46 assists, nine digs, four kills and three aces against the Buckeyes. Her 46 assists put her No. 10 in program history on the all-time assists list. She now has 53 aces this year, breaking the program's single season rally-era record.
“Cam’s Cam,” Aird said. “That last set to Avry (Tatum) was stuff that you don’t draw up. That’s not coaching, that’s just special.”
Ohio State came with firepower early in the match, as Indiana was aced three times in the first set. Indiana also committed three service errors while Ohio State hit .424 to win the opening frame 25-21 and take a 1-0 lead.
Indiana’s blocking came to life in the second set, as sophomore opposite/middle blocker Tatum and graduate student middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg each provided four in the frame. A total of six team blocks and a quality set from the offense got Indiana a 25-23 win and equalized the score in Bloomington 1-1.
Indiana won the third set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead. Four aces, which were provided by four separate players, became the key factor in determining the outcome of the set. Senior setter Morgan Geddes secured four kills in the set and Ohio State missed five serves which allowed Indiana to capitalize on opportunities to notch points.
The Buckeyes battled back against a struggling Hoosier offense in the fourth set. As the match was tied 14 apiece, the Buckeyes popped off an 8-0 run to take a comfortable lead. The Hoosiers battled back late to keep the match within reach at 23-20, but two attacking errors allowed the Buckeyes to equalize the match 25-20.
The Hoosiers didn’t miss a single serve and got two blocks during the final set of the night. Sophomore outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles came up with three kills to set the tone of the match and create a 10-6 lead. Tatum buried the final blow on Saturday night to win the set 15-13 and the match.
“I’m more proud of the fact that we found a way to win,” Aird said. “That’s not a match we probably win over last few years, when we get punched and its two heavyweights going back and forth.”
Indiana heads on the road for a match against Illinois. The match will be at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
