Volleyball Falls to Ohio State in Five-Set Battle

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Winthrop University volleyball team fell to Ohio State 3-2 on Friday at Covelli Center. Paige Bennett led the Eagles with a match-high 18 kills and 17 digs, while Lexi Thatcher contributed a match-high 43 assists and Addison Torain added a match-high 23 digs.

Winthrop achieved a season-high total of nine blocks in the match. Torain registered a season-high of 23 digs, Bennett recorded a season-high 17 digs, Alyah Cadavid achieved a season-high of 12 digs, and Thatcher notched a season-high of 43 set assists. Reece Rhoads set a season-high with 13 kills.

Top Performers

Kills – Bennett (18), Rhoads (13), Sychterz (6)
Aces – Bennett (3), Torain (1)
Blocks – Sychterz (6), Thatcher (4), Rhoads (2)
Assists – Thatcher (43), Torain (4)
Digs – Torain (23), Bennett (17), Cadavid (12)

Set 1

• The Eagles built an early 6-3 lead with kills from Bennett and Rhoads.
• OSU moved from a 7-7 tie to a 10-7 lead behind consecutive service aces by Alia Schoonover and a Naomy Govou kill.
• Winthrop stayed close as Laila Glover’s kill cut OSU’s lead to 14-12, and Bennett’s ace later tied the set at 15-15.
• Bennett’s kill gave the Eagles an 18-17 lead, and Thatcher’s service turn carried the Eagles to 22-17.
• OSU sided out three times late, but kills by Little and Glover and a Gauthier attack error sealed the 25-20 set win for Winthrop.

Set 2

• OSU broke from a 7-6 edge to a 13-7 lead, with an ace from Emily Avshalomov during the stretch.
• The Eagles worked back within 16-14 with kills from Bennett, Sychterz, and Thatcher.
• OSU moved ahead 23-20 on back-to-back kills by Govou.
• A service error returned the ball to Winthrop, and Bennett served the final four points to finish a 25-23 set win.

Set 3  

• After trading points to 5-5, the Eagles scored three straight, including a Rhoads kill and a Rhoads-Giselle Little block.
• Winthrop pushed the lead to 11-6 after another Rhoads kill and consecutive OSU attack errors.
• OSU pulled even at 17-17 on two Eagles attack errors.
• Bennett’s kill gave the Eagles a 22-20 lead, but OSU responded with three straight points to take a 23-22 lead.
• The Buckeyes closed the set 25-23 after an Eagles service error and a Nakanelua kill.

Set 4 

• The Eagles moved in front 8-5 with kills from Bennett, block assists from Bennett, Sychterz, and Rhoads, and a Bennett service ace.
• OSU tied the set at 17-17, but Rhoads put down back-to-back kills and Thatcher teamed with Little on a block to go ahead 20-17.
• Winthrop reached set point at 24-22 on Bennett’s kill, but OSU rallied with kills from Jioshvili Ravva to take the set 26-24.

Set 5  

• The Eagles and OSU traded points to a 6-6 tie, with kills from Glover and Rhoads and a Thatcher-Sychterz block.
• OSU took a 9-6 lead on kills by Jones and Jioshvili Ravva and a Nakanelua service ace.
• The Eagles came back within 10-9 on two Bennett kills.
• The teams alternated points, with Glover’s kill and an OSU service error keeping Winthrop within one at 13-12.
• Gauthier’s kill and an Eagles attack error closed the set for OSU, 15-12.

NEXT UP

The Eagles continue the Sports Import Classic tomorrow against Youngstown State on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.

Story courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.