Around the Oval: Men's Volleyball Advances to NCAAs, Men's Golf Second at Big Ten Tournament, Softball Sweeps Maryland

By Harry Wexner on April 30, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Nicolas Szerszen
Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
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Buckeye excellence is not exclusive to the football field or the basketball court. Around the Oval is our way of keeping you informed of the amazing things happening with the other 34 varsity sports on campus.

Men's Volleyball Advances to 'Round of Six'

Men's volleyball defeated King University in straight sets on Thursday. The win allows the Buckeyes to advance to the 'round of six' at NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships in Los Angeles. The team will play UC Irvine on Tuesday. 

Three-time Big Ten Player of the Year Nicolas Szerszen led the charge for the Bucks on Thursday. Szerszen delivered 14 kills while committing only one error. His four aces brought his career total to 236, passing Chicago's Joseph Smalzer for third place on the all-time NCAA ace leader board. 

The Buckeyes started the match against King with a decisive 25-13 set. The team sparked the blowout frame with a 8-0 run. Ohio State also played spectacular defense holding King to a .000 team hitting efficiency.

In the second set, King came back swinging. Late in the frame, King led the Bucks 23-21. Ohio State rallied, however, and won four straight points to take the set. 

In the third set, the Ohio State offensive came alive with 15 kills. The Buckeyes cemented the win with a 14-7 run. 

Men's Golf Runner-Up at Big Ten Championship

The men's golf team placed second at the Big Ten Championship in Baltimore this weekend.

Scoring eleven over par, the squad recorded its best finish since 2004. Moreover, for the second year in a row, the Buckeyes posted the team's best result in a decade in a half. Last year, Ohio State finished third at conference championships. 

In individual play, junior Will Grimmer recorded four birdies early and ended the day with a score of 72. The effort was enough for a fourth-place finish. Last year, Grimmer finished in second place.  

Sophomore Jeg Coughlin III scored four-over par to finish tenth in individual competition. He was joined in the top twenty by 15th-placed teammate Daniel Wetterich, who finished five-over par. 

Softball Sweeps Maryland on Senior Day

The softball team hosted Maryland in Columbus this weekend for a three game series. 

The weekend started strong on Friday with a 13-5 six-inning Buckeye clobbering of the Terrapins. The team's 13 runs, 13 RBI and 14 hits represented a season high. Ohio State's five home runs matched the program record. 

On Saturday, the Buckeyes were at it again, this time felling Maryland by a 9-5 margin. The Buckeyes jumped out to a lead in the fifth inning, when the team scored five runs. Standout junior Lilli Piper led the charge with two RBIs. 

On Saturday, Senior Day, the team did right by its graduating members and completed the weekend sweep. In the lowest-scoring affair of the weekend, the Buckeyes carried the day 5-2. 

  • Men's tennis achieved a three-peat Big Ten Tournament Championship to cap an undefeated season in conference. For more Eleven Warriors coverage, click here. 
  • Women's tennis fell to Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. The team hopes to secure an at-large bid to NCAA Championships. 
  • 19th-ranked men's lacrosse defeated ninth-ranked Rutgers in the team's regular season finale. The Big Ten Tournament starts next week. 
  • The track and field team won nine races at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. 
  • The baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win a thriller versus Minnesota. Ohio State lost the weekend series 2-1. 
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