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Ohio picks up much-needed MAC win over Buffalo – WOUB Public Media

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

Ohio picks up much-needed MAC win over Buffalo – WOUB Public Media

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — In a desperate push for a coveted spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Ohio (13-13, 9-6 MAC) was able to push aside Buffalo (14-14, 10-5 MAC) for one of the most important wins of the season to this point.

Ohio got off to a very fast start in the match. An ace by Bryn Janke served as a precursor for the high-powered offense that Ohio would put on display in the opening set. Ohio took an early 5-0 lead in the blink of an eye with kills by Anna Kharchynska and Kam Hunt highlighting the run. Unlike some other runs for Ohio, it was able to keep up the pressure on Buffalo, extending the lead to 10-1 and, eventually, 21-6 before winning the first set, 25-10.

The dominance from the Bobcats in the opening set was something to behold as the team outhit the Bulls by an astounding 0.364 to -0.045. The massive difference in energy was something that was welcome for Ohio head coach Geoff Carlston who admits that his team are usually “terrible starters.” Despite that characterization from her coach, Janke attributes the hot start to something else.

“I think just staying with what we know, focusing on those skills and running the offense cleanly,” Janke said. “(We were) just making sure that we’re taking control of the game and not letting them take everything.”

The second set was a lot closer than the first. Buffalo was able to take an early, albeit one that was wrestled away by Ohio. The teams traded the lead back and forth until, when the score was tied at six apiece, Ohio went on an 8-2 run to make it 14-8. The rally was not over for Ohio as it continued to mount a lead, getting up by as many as six points and eventually getting to a set point with a 24-20 lead. Buffalo would not blink, going on an improbable 5-0 run to take the second set and any hopes of a dominant, quick victory for Ohio.

Anna Kharchynska and Chariti McKeller high-fiving during Ohio’s win over Miami. [Darayus Sethna | WOUB Public Media]

The deflating ending to the second set for Ohio would be enough to sap some teams of any semblance of synergy and composure. For a moment, it appeared as if that might be the case. Buffalo continued to force Ohio into making errors early in the third set. However, that all changed when Ohio got a break in the form of a kill from Kharchynska. That catapulted Ohio back into the set. The teams would continue to trade points. Down 21-19, Ohio flipped the script from the previous set, blowing past Buffalo to take the third set.

The third set, as pivotal as any, was a huge moment for the Bobcats. They very easily could have folded under the deteriorating confidence stemming from a deflating loss in the second set. Instead, they found a way to rise above the adversity and respond by dishing out some adversity to their opponent.

“Third sets are always the big ones,” Carlston said. “We played a really good third set. It was not a pretty third set but it was a grinder and we were able to pull that one off. That was huge… we showed some guts.”

The fourth set was more like the previous two sets, not the first one. The teams, again, traded points with the Bobcats taking the lead only for the Bulls to tie the score. After a short run for the Bobcats, the score stood at 8-4 before the advantage got to 12-5 in favor of the home team. Like the Bobcats could have after the second set, it would have been easy for the Bulls to throw in the towel; it was a good comeback in the second set, but ultimately not their night. That was not the case as they stormed back to make it a one-point set with the score at 19-18, Bobcats.

Seemingly, Buffalo used up all of its gas to get even with Ohio. After the score tightened, Ohio was able to pull away for good, winning the fourth and final set, 25-21 on a kill by Olivia Gardener.

The match was truly a showcase of the talent on the roster for Ohio. Kharchynska and Hunt, the leaders of the offensive attack, ended the match with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Janke had 37 assists while Kendall Hickey had 26 digs. Each of the starters for Ohio hit over 0.200 over the course of the match. That being said, these numbers mean nothing without the team continuing to play at this level with this sense of urgency.

“We’re treating it like the MAC Tournament,” Carlston said. “This is a dry run for two weeks from now when you have to win to move on.”

With the MAC Tournament nearing and the pendulum swinging with every point, set and match across the conference, teams like Ohio that find itself in the cluster of teams hovering in contention for the final couple of spots are looking for one thing: a chance.

“We have a good group and we’re playing really well right now,” Carlston said. “I want this group to have the opportunity to get in the tournament because we’re going to be a gnarly team to play if we can do it. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but tonight was a good start.”

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Ohio

Photos from Ohio State’s 38-15 Win over Indiana

Published

16 mins ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Photos from Ohio State’s 38-15 Win over Indiana

Ohio State has earned its second top-five win of the season.

The Buckeyes dominated Indiana on Saturday, taking down the Hoosiers 38-15 at Ohio Stadium.

Will Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while Caleb Downs made the play of the day and returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.

Cody Simon had a terrific day defensively, finishing with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon.

Ohio State is back in action for its regular-season finale with a battle against Michigan next week in Columbus. But in the meantime, you can view our photo gallery from the day that has more than 100 photos of the action at the top of the page.

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315 south reopens near Ohio State campus before big game against Indiana

Published

9 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

315 south reopens near Ohio State campus before big game against Indiana

(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

Ohio State football fans should be in better shape driving to Saturday’s game after road crews cleared a major traffic crash near campus.

All southbound lanes on State Route 315 beyond North Broadway Street were closed for several hours Saturday morning due to a crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. A semitruck carrying fuel jack-knifed around 6:30 a.m., blocking traffic on the freeway just before the Gooddale Street exit.

The truck was moved from the freeway around 8 a.m., and the freeway reopened about 45 minutes later.

How to get to Ohio Stadium for Indiana game

Ohio State athletics suggests these alternate routes to get to Ohio Stadium:

Traveling from the North

I-71 South to Hudson Street or 17th Avenue exits

Traveling from the South

I-71 North to SR-315 North
Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road

Traveling from the East

I-670 West to SR-315 North
Exit at Ackerman or Olentangy River Road
670 West to 71 North to 17th Avenue or Hudson Street

Traveling from the West

I-270 South to 70 East to I-670 to SR-315 North
Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road
Fishinger Road to Kenny Road to Ackerman Road
Riverside Drive to Fishinger Road or Lane Avenue

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

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Ohio, Kentucky high school football teams look ahead to state semifinals Nov. 29

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Ohio, Kentucky high school football teams look ahead to state semifinals Nov. 29

CINCINNATI — Thanksgiving week represents the state semifinals for high school football teams in Ohio and Kentucky.

In Division I, Moeller (13-1) is expected to take on Centerville (11-3) in a state semifinal to be played at Princeton Nov. 29. This will be Moeller’s fourth consecutive state semifinals after defeating St. Xavier 28-23.

Friday night’s sold-out game at Mason (7,000 capacity) was the second meeting between the Greater Catholic League South division rivals this season. Moeller defeated host St. X 45-37 Sept. 20. This was the first time the two teams had met in a regional final since 2014.

Moeller, Ohio’s No. 1-ranked team by MaxPreps, was the No. 1 seed in Region 4 this season. St. X, ranked No. 8 statewide by MaxPreps, is the No. 6 seed.

Region 8’s top seed, Anderson (14-0), will play Sunbury Big Walnut in a Division II state semifinal Nov. 29 at a location to be determined.

Unbeaten Anderson defeated No. 2 seed La Salle 28-21 in a regional final at Princeton.

Anderson is ranked No. 11 in the MaxPreps Ohio rankings (regardless of division) while La Salle was No. 18.

Friday was the fourth meeting between the two programs including the first matchup since a 2021 second-round playoff game in which the Lancers won 45-21, according to La Salle football broadcaster Jeff Bosse. The Lancers were also victorious in a 2020 regional semifinal and a 2007 regular-season game.

Anderson, winning its second straight regional title, now makes its fourth state Final Four appearance in program history. The Raptors were a 2023 state semifinalist, 2008 state runner-up and 2007 state champion — all in Division II.

Taft (12-2) is also heading to the state semifinals after a 26-12 win over Alter in the Division IV, Region 16 regional final at Monroe. The game was a rematch of a Week 3 game in which Taft won 36-7 over visiting Alter. That was part of the Senators’ three-game win streak to start the season.

Taft was in its first regional final since 2021, which was Tyler Williams’ first season as head coach.

The Senators have won the first Cincinnati Public Schools football regional championship since 1992, according to CPS athletics. Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (CAPE) won the last of its three state championships in 1992 (Division IV). CAPE also won state titles in 1986 (Division III) and 1985 (Division IV).

Kentucky played its regional finals Friday night. Ryle defeated Central Hardin 43-14, getting their first regional championship since 2020.

In Class 5A, Cooper dominated at home against Southwestern, advancing after a 56-15 win. Highlands also won big, running away at the half to defeat Pulaski County 42-18.

In a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship, Covington Catholic defeated Boyle County 31-28.

Beechwood defeated Martin County 44-7 in Class 2A play.

Indiana was in the semi-state round Friday night. In Class 3A, Batesville lost on the road at Heritage Hills.

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