Sept. 10, 2005

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. - Seniors Holly Schetzsle (Pataskala, Ohio) and Julia Winkfield (Newark, Ohio) combined for 39 kills in leading the Ohio volleyball team to a 3-1 (30-21, 22-30, 30-18, 30-17) win over Albany. The win gave the Bobcats the UAlbany Tournament title and snapped Albany's 14-match home winning streak.

"They (Schetzsle and Winkfield) both stepped up today," Head Coach Geoff Carlston said. "Holly and Julia really had a great match and we need that from them every single match."

The win marks the second consecutive match Ohio has defeated a defending conference champion and a 2004 NCAA Tournament participant after taking out Iona yesterday.

"Albany will very likely win its conference this year and so will Iona so it's huge for us," Carlston said. "I was really proud of how our girls responded today. To come out and win this tournament is an important step."

Both Schetzsle and Winkfield set season-highs in kills with Schetzsle leading Ohio with 22 kills and Winkfield adding 17. Winkfield hit a team-best .500 while Schetzsle was second, hitting .391. Stephanie Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) narrowly missed her fourth consecutive double-double finishing with nine kills and 15 digs.

Setter Savanah Parra (Temecula, Calif.) recorded her first career double-double, the second Bobcat to do so in two matches after Griffin accomplished the feat yesterday against Iona. Parra finished with a match-high 48 assists and a season-best 12 digs while matching career-highs with three kills and two blocks. Michaele Blackburn (Cincinnati, Ohio) led Ohio with 20 digs.

Winkfield was named the tournament Most Valuable Player while Schetzsle and Michaele Blackburn were both named to the all-tournament Team. The all-tournament selections are the second of the season for both Winkfield and Blackburn.

The opening game was neck and neck in the early going with Ohio grabbing a 12-9 lead. Albany remained within striking distance until the late moments of the first frame. The Bobcats closed with a 6-1 run to take the first game 30-21.

Ohio recovered from a game two loss to take the third frame. With the scored tied at 9, the Bobcats ran off three straight points to gain a 12-9 edge. The Great Danes stayed within three at 15-12 but Ohio finished the game with a 15-6 run to take the frame 30-18.

The Bobcats kept the momentum flowing into the fourth and final game, jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never looking back. Ohio extended the lead to 19-8 and finished off Albany with Winkfield's 17th kill to take the game and the match.

"I thought today was a great match," Carlston said. "We played very passionate and relentless defense. I thought our kids came out ready and played hard."

Ohio improves to 8-1 on the year while Albany falls to 6-2.