FAIRFAX, Va. – The King University men's volleyball team fell to #9 Ohio State Sunday night, 3-0 in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball championship. The loss brings to a close a historic season for the Tornado.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #9 Ohio State 3, King 0 (25-20, 25-16, 36-34)
LOCATION: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: King 16-16; #9 Ohio State 23-9
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- After the Buckeyes built an early 11-7 lead, the Tornado slowly started to come back, pulling to within 13-12 on a block by Aaron Milstead and AJ Drooker before tying things up a short time later.
- The Tornado would tie the score twice more, including at 16-16 on consecutive Tornado points, one of which was a kill from Jackson Carroll.
- The Tornado also tied the score at 17-17 on a Warren Davis kill.
- After a Drooker kill made the score 23-20, the Buckeyes took the final two points of the set, winning 25-20.
Second Set
- King held the score close early, staying within 5-4 before the Buckeyes scored two points in a row to pull ahead 7-4.
- Ohio State would eventually grow their lead to 11-5 before a service error stopped the run and made the score 11-6.
- The Buckeyes lead would eventually turn into 16-8 before consecutive King points, including a solo bock by Milstead that pulled King to within 16-10.
- King would fall behind 24-15, which is where Kellan Kennedy recorded a kill, bringing King to within 24-16 before the Buckeyes took the final point.
Third Set
- The Buckeyes would take a 7-5 lead early, before the Tornado scored four in a row, including two kills by Milstead, who also teamed up with Davis for a block, making the score 9-7 in favor of the Tornado.
- After Ohio State tied the set at 10, King again went on a run, this time scoring three in a row, with Davis getting a kill to push King in front 13-11.
- The Tornado would eventually build a 15-11 lead heading into a TV timeout.
- Ohio State battled back to tie the set at 17, starting a stretch that would see five lead changes and 15 ties.
- The Tornado were down 24-22, when coming out of a timeout used kills from Kennedy and Davis to tie the set at 24.
- King would have three instances where they were sitting at match point, but the Buckeyes were able to rally each time, eventually taking the set 36-34, and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Warren Davis had 14 kills for the Tornado, while also adding five digs and a block assist.
- Jack Sarnowski handed out 31 set assists on the night and also led the Tornado with seven digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Jacob Pasteur led the Buckeyes attack, recording 17 kills.
- Michael Wright handed out 43 se assists, also recording two kills and five digs.
UP NEXT
- Ohio State advances to another opening round match, set for Tuesday night against Penn State University.
