September 2, 2011
Hokies battle with Ohio but fall, 3-2
Wiker tallies a team-best 15 kills
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Virginia Tech (3-1) 25232523142
Ohio (3-1) 16251525163
  • Lexington, Ky. - 367

LEXINGTON, Ky. - In a match filled with back-and-forth play the Virginia Tech volleyball team came up just short as it fell to the Ohio University Bobcats, 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 14-16). Neither team won consecutive sets in the evenly matched outing. Jennifer Wiker led the Tech offense with 15 kills, while Ohio’s Kelly Lamberti tallied 12 kills and 14 digs.

Close play began the first set but didn’t last long; Tech (3-1) took off after going up 5-2 early on. The Hokies made it 10-3 at one point and went on to win the opening set 25-16.

The second set was much different from the first. Though it started off in a similar fashion, the action remained close the entire time. Both teams saw the advantage in their hands and neither led by more than four points at any moment. Ohio (3-1) was able to sneak out the win after breaking a 23-23 tie and bringing home two straight points.

Tech bounced back in the third set and returned to the way it started the match. The Hokies broke away from the Bobcats early and never looked back. After going up 10-6, Tech extended its lead to 19-9 and eventually took the set by 10 points, winning 25-15.

The fourth set opened with Ohio keeping its distance from the Hokies. Tech would finally catch up to the Bobcats and tie things at 14 apiece. Both teams would continue to battle for the lead, with Ohio eventually edging the Hokies and taking another 25-23 win to force a fifth set.

The deciding set consisted of close play until the final points. Both teams teetered with leads and ties, but the Bobcats would eventually capture the match victory with two straight kills after breaking the 14-14 tie.

Despite the outcome, the Hokies outdid Ohio in nearly every statistical category, also taking the edge in kills in each set.

Behind Wiker, Justine Record tallied her third double-double of the season with 14 kills and 18 digs for the Hokies, while Erin Leaser tossed up 46 assists and Cara Baarendse came up big at the net with nine blocks.

For the Bobcats, Katie Post dominated the net with a game-high 13 blocks and Chelsea Bilget also threw down 12 kills.

The Hokies will return to action tomorrow as they continue play in Lexington. Tech will face Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. before matching up with host Kentucky at 7:30 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).

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