The first set saw nine tied scores, many early on in the game. Tied at six, two Buckeye attack errors and a kill from Michigan's Courtney Fletcher gave the Wolverines their first lead. Errors from both teams and a kill from Alex Hunt of UM put the score at 8-12 in Michigan's favor. Ohio State was able to tie the game at 12 with kills from Emily Danks, Mariah Booth and Kaitlyn Leary. Fletcher returned with another kill and was followed by Buckeyes Mari Hole and Kelli Barhorst. A service error from Danks tied the game at 14. At 15 a piece, back to back Hole kills forced a time out from Michigan, but Hole answered with her third kill in a row. UM began to close the gap and a service ace from Lexi Dannemiller made OSU take its first time out at 19-18. The Wolverines would only score once more in the set on a Buckeye error. Ohio State closed the set a kill from Amanda Peterson, after a long run of kills from Leary, Danks and Booth, 25-19.
The first six points scored by Michigan were due to errors from Ohio State and Jennifer Cross, their 6'4'' sophomore. At 4-8, Hole set fire again with three consecutive kills. Interrupted by a Peterson block and a Michigan time out, Hole gave the Bucks their first lead with another kill. Fletcher, Dannemiller and Hunt scored three more points for UM to take back the lead. Tied at 12, Michigan gave up three points in error and saw two Booth blocks and a Leary kill. At 20-14, Catherine Yager, in collaberation with Cross, got two crucial blocks. A Hunt-Cross block, a Leary error and a Cross kill tied the second set at 20. A Fletcher kill put the game at 22 all, but the Bucks got to set point first with a block and kill from Booth. Danks sealed the set with a kill, 25-22.
Michigan, although down by two sets, came out of the locker room ready to play and took the third set 25-16. UM got ahead early in the set and Ohio State was unable to catch up. At 2-2, Claire McElheny and Lexi Erwin of Michigan both recorded kills. Two blocks, Cross-Erwin and Cross-Dannemiller, forced OSU to take its first time out. In an attempt to close the gap on Michigan, the Buckeyes scored nearly every time the Wolverines did for the next several plays. Kills from Peterson, Leary and Barhorst helped Ohio State stay alive, but they were answered by Fletcher, Hunt and McElheny. At 8-12, Michigan went on a four point scoring drive with kills by Cross and Erwin and a Fletcher service ace. After a time out from Ohio State, the Bucks were able to get several more points on the board, but the damage had been done. A Barhorst kill made it 14-21, and McElheny and Erwin gave UM two more. A Hunt service error and a Danks kill gave OSU its 16 points. Finally, a Fletcher service ace spelled victory for Michigan in the third set.
Now with the task of winning the next two sets, Michigan put up a fight in the fourth set. A Cross kill made it 4-7 in Michigan's favor before a five point run by Ohio State put them in the lead. Michigan caught up and tied the game at 12 with three Buckeye errors, a Dannemiller kill and a McElheny-Fletcher block. Tied at 14, Booth, Danks and Barhorst all earned points for OSU, while UM gave the ball to Molly Toon for a kill and gave up a point in error. Another Toon kill made it 19-16 and two OSU attack errors put the Wolverines back in the game. Barhorst and Danks answered with a kill and a service ace, twice. Erwin's serve sailed out of bounds to put Ohio State at match point. Barhorst, in her senior season, got one last powerful kill and the Bucks celebrated a 3-1 win over their rivals, 25-20.
Ohio State finished no.49 in the national rankings. Michigan finishes 23rd.
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