Hurricanes Fall to Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 20 University of Miami volleyball team (5-1) fell, 3-0, to the Ohio State Buckeyes (4-2) Friday evening in the Covelli Center.

Ohio State took an early 13-8 lead in the first set as the Buckeyes were hitting .385 as a team. Miami never backed down, as redshirt freshman Ariana Rodriguez registered a block to force a timeout and make it 15-16. Ohio State took set one, 25-21, after a 3-0 run, despite the Hurricanes’ 15 kills.

The second set felt familiar to the first, with the Buckeyes earning a 7-3 lead, until back-to-back kills from junior Flormarie Heredia Colon helped Miami tie it a seven-all. Keeping the set tight, senior Paula Guersching and junior Dalia Wilson earned a block to tie the set again at 14. Despite trading points, OSU took the second set, 25-21.

Set three started with a deep 7-1 lead for Ohio State. Miami went on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit but still was down 11-6 and kept the lead throughout the set. Senior Alanys Viera claimed an ace to top off Miami’s 4-0 run, but with only eight kills, the Hurricanes fell, 25-16, in the third set.

The Hurricanes will remain in Columbus, Ohio, to face Wright State and Buffalo, Sept. 14 and 15, respectively.