Ohio State women’s volleyball started its season against Texas.
And while it proved to be a big test for Jen Flynn Oldenburg’s Buckeyes, losing six of seven sets against the Longhorns, it was indicative of where the Ohio State volleyball coach thought her team should be: playing with the best.
On Saturday, in Ohio State’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament regional final since 2004, the Longhorns got the better of the Buckeyes once again, beating them in four sets (25-18, 21-25, 25-13, 25-21) to earn a trip to the national semifinal.
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Ohio State failed to make its first Final Four since 1994, one of two in program history after first making the national semifinal in 1991.
"We chose to fight as a team," Ohio State outside hitter Emily Londot said. "We got better every single day. I think it showed... I think that work was worth it and everyone bought into the goals that the team had."
Texas recorded a season-high 16.5 blocks, including a team-high eight by Asjia O'Neal to help lead to a Final Four matchup with No. 2 San Diego in a national semifinal Thursday in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ohio State was led by Londot (14) and Gabby Gonzales (10), who each brought in double-digit kills for the Buckeyes.
Texas takes control vs. Ohio State from the first set
Coming off a 29-kill performance in the Sweet 16 against Minnesota, Londot gave the Buckeyes their first points of the day in what proved to be a back-and-forth start between Ohio State and Texas. But the Longhorns woke up late in the first set, scoring seven points in eight sets, including an ace by Logan Eggleston that broke the Big 12 career record, to earn the 25-18 set win.
The Longhorns outhit Ohio State .400 to .148 in the first set despite the Buckeyes’ four blocks compared to Texas’ three.
Texas’ momentum carried into the second game, securing five of the first six points, including kills by Caffey and Eggleston and a Londot attack error and using another 5-1 run to take an early six-point lead.
But Ohio State woke up.
Trailing 19-14, an Eggleston service error started an 11-2 Ohio State run, tying the game with Rylee Rader’s sixth block and taking the lead off Rader’s second kill. The Buckeyes used a three-point run to earn the 25-21 second-set win, tying the match at one set apiece with a Gonzales kill.
"I think we really turned it around, put up a fight," Rader said. "And when we put up a fight, no one is going to stop us. I think that's what we did in the second set: we believed in ourselves."
Ohio State’s defense forced the Longhorns to hit .188 in the second set: a tournament low for Texas.
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Rader finished with a season-high eight blocks for an Ohio State team that recorded 11 blocks against Texas.
While neither team hit will at the start of the third set, the Longhorns regained control, using a 7-0 run to take a lead they wouldn’t lose, silencing an Ohio State offense that recorded seven kills and 11 errors on 38 hits. Texas also added eight blocks, finishing the set with a block from Devin Kawhahai and Bella Bergmark.
After a dominant third-set win, the Longhorns allowed the Buckeyes to storm back in the fourth, using a 8-3 run to take a two-point lead 15-13 lead. But Texas rallied back, earning the win with a three-kill run, including two by Eggleston.
Eggleston (20) and Madisen Skinner (13) proved to be the Longhorns’ main offensive weapons, each recording double-digit kills for the Longhorns.
Even with the fourth-set win, the Buckeyes put up better hitting numbers than the Longhorns, recording a .273 hitting percentage, but finishing the game with 42 kills and 24 errors on 131 hits.
Big Ten Setter of the Year Mac Podraza led the Buckeyes with 36 assists with 10 digs and three blocks, while Big 12 Setter of the Year Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres added 40 assists.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr finished with 12 digs.
Seniors put Ohio State women's volleyball 'back on the map'
Heading into the NCAA Tournament with four-straight losses, Rader said the Buckeyes were ready to turn things around.
Ohio State created momentum from three-set sweeps against Tennessee State and Southern California before earning a four-set win against Minnesota to earn a trip to the regional final for the first time since 2004.
For Rader, it was all for Ohio State's seven seniors and representative of all they have helped build over the course of their time with the Buckeyes.
"We are just so thankful for the seniors and all the work they have been putting in all four years here," Rader said. "We put Ohio State on the map and people are going to want to come here now."
But for Oldenburg, returning to where she played in college to lead as a head coach, this senior class represents one that bought in and turned into her family.
"They have left a mark on the program," Oldenburg said. "I think they have left a mark on me. Every team talks about being a family. I think that they bought into what I was bringing from Day 1.
"I think I proved to everybody it's more than where you came from. It's who you are and what you're about and being a Buckeye is something pretty special... I think from Day 1 they were ready for more. I think that we built a connection and a bond that's going to last a lifetime."
