Ohio State Sweeps USC to Advance to Third-Straight NCAA Regionals – Ohio State Buckeyes

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 3 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (21-9, 15-5 B1G) swept (25-21, 25-17, 25-16) six-seeded USC (22-11, 13-7 Pac-12) on Saturday evening in the second round of the NCAA Tournament inside Covelli.

The first set was tied 11 times before Ohio State finished strong to earn the 25-21 set win. The Buckeyes used a pair of 4-0 runs to pull away to a 25-17 win in the second set. Ohio State took control of the third set early and earned the 25-16 set win.

How it Happened

Adria Powell and Emily Londot opened scoring with a block as the teams traded pairs of points. USC had its first lead at 5-4. The score was tied six more times before the media timeout with the Trojans holding the 15-13 advantage. Ohio State’s deficit was 17-14, but the Buckeyes scored three-straight to tie the set at 17 and took the 21-20 lead on a 4-1 run, forcing a USC timeout. OSU scored the final three points amidst a second Trojans’ timeout to claim a 25-21 set win on an ace from Gabby Gonzales.

Ohio State again scored the first two points of the set before each team had three-unanswered points. The Buckeyes used a 4-0 run to build an 11-6 lead amidst a USC timeout. The Trojans called their second timeout of the set after a 3-0 Buckeye run extended the OSU lead to 16-10. Ohio State used a 4-0 run and scored the final two points to cap a 25-17 set win with Londot’s 10^th kill of the match.

The Buckeyes were strong early, taking an 8-3 lead to force a USC timeout. Ohio State scored two more points out of the timeout to extend its run to six-unanswered points. Back-to-back OSU points gave the Buckeyes the 13-5 advantage, prompting the Trojans’ second timeout of the set. Ohio State stretched its lead to as large as 13 points at 22-9. USC won back-to-back challenges on OSU match point before a kill from Gonzales sealed the 25-16 set win.

Highlights

S1: Set point

S2: Set point

S3: Match point

Match Notes

• Ohio State advances to its third-straight NCAA regional semifinal, making its 19^th regional appearance as a program.
• This is the Buckeyes’ 11^th sweep of the season.
• OSU’s nine service aces was the most of the season in three-set matches.
• Emily Londot was the first in the match to reach 10 kills, doing so for the 27^th time this season. She totaled 13 kills tonight.
• Kylie Murr was the first in the match to 10 digs, recording 10+ for the 27^th time this season. Murr finished with 14 digs.
• Sarah Sue Morbitzer (4) and…