Columbus, Ohio. – The #15 ranked Golden Eagles defeated the #13 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon.  
 
The Basics:
Location: Covelli Center
Score: UC  3, Ohio State 1
Records: UC 15-1 (3-1 EIVA), Ohio State 11-6
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles traveled to #13 nationally ranked Ohio State for an out of conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. The opening set started out very tight, both sides trading points and neither team going on a run. Ohio State took a lead over Charleston 15-11 after a few Charleston serving errors. The Golden Eagles were able to respond and brought the score back to even 16-16 after several Buckeye service errors and a few Golden Eagle kills. The remainder of the set was side-out for side-out until Ohio State took the crucial 24-22 lead. With set point on the line, Charleston's Luuk Hoge Bavel got a kill bringing the set score to 24-23 OSU. The Buckeyes were able to close out the set with a kill of their own taking set one 25-23.
 
Although Charleston fell to Ohio State in set one, the Golden Eagles had an impressive hitting percentage of .684% compared to the Buckeyes .367%. Charleston was 14-19 with only one error in the first set loss.
 
Set two started out close once again, but Charleston quickly changed that when they went on a 7-3 over the Buckeyes, taking the 13-8 advantage in the set. The Golden Eagles did not let off the gas, extending their lead to 17-11. The Buckeyes responded with a slight run of their own, winning he next 5 of 7 points and bringing the set score back to 19-16 UC. The Golden Eagles responded with a side-out and then several Buckeye attack errors pushed Charleston ahead 23-16. Ohio State won the next three points, but Charleston ended their run with two Luuk Hoge Bavel kills to win the second set 25-19.
 
Charleston once again out-hit the Buckeyes .407% to .111%. Luuk Hoge Bavel and Lachlan Bray both collected five kills in the set victory.
 
With the set score tied at 1-1 both teams came out in the third set battling. The Buckeyes and the Golden Eagles traded side outs back and forth until the Charleston finally got a three-point lead, which was the most breathing room either team had gotten in the set. With the score 19-16 UC, Ohio State was not ready to lay down and the Buckeyes went on to get the next two points with a kill and service ace. The next few points were traded, and the set was all tied up at 22-22. Charleston's Veit Bils came up clutch with a kill giving the Golden Eagles the slight edge over the Buckeyes. The Golden Eagles picked up the next point off a Buckeye attack error, but Charleston gave the point right back with an attack error of their own. Ohio State had the serve, but the Buckeyes needed to win this point as they trailed 24-23. The Buckeye middle hitter fell under pressure and missed his serve giving Charleston the third set victory 25-23.
 
Charleston continued their impressive offense with a .500% hitting percentage in the third set. The Golden Eagles were 15-24 with three players hitting over .400%.
 
The fourth set was much of the same at the start, high level volleyball with both teams trading side outs back and forth. The scoring finally opened when Charleston went on a five-point run to take the 14-10 lead over the Buckeyes. Ohio State responded with a 5-2 run of their own, cutting the deficit and bringing the score to 16-15 UC. The teams went on to trade points back and forth until Charleston took the lead 24-22. The Golden Eagles had serve but gave the Buckeyes a key point when the serve was missed. With the set now 24-23 UC and the match on the line, the Buckeyes needed a big play. It was Jacob Pasteur who came in clutch for the Buckeyes and tied the set 24-24 with a kill. On the very next point the Golden Eagles gave Ohio State the advantage with an attack error. Ohio State now with set point made a service error to bring the set back to even 25-25. Both teams went on to trade attack errors and the set was once again tied, 26-26.  Graduate student Lachlan Bray came to make a statement and that he did when he got the kill to put the Golden Eagles ahead in the set. On match point, Ohio State went for the attack, but Garret Schnitker and Veit Bils shut down the Buckeyes for the evening with a huge block to end the set 28-26 and take the match victory.
 
Charleston hit .429% in the set with five Golden Eagles hitting .500% or better. Luuk Hoge Bavel had a season high 18 kills while hitting .552% in the match victory. Lachlan Bray was 14-24 with a .458% hitting percentage. Diego Villafane had 45 assists in the match and was crucial to the Golden Eagles offense.
 
Up Next:
Charleston will host Mount Olive for a two-game series on March 10^th (7PM) and March 11^th (4PM).