Press Release courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State is taking its only road trip of October this weekend when it visits Illinois Friday at 9 p.m. ET and Northwestern Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET. Friday’s outing against the Fighting Illini will be live on the Big Ten Network.
WEEKLY BASICS
Friday, Oct. 13 | 9 p.m. ET | Champaign, Ill. | Huff Hall
Ohio State (10-7, 3-3 B1G) at Illinois (13-4, 4-2 B1G) | TV: BTN
Saturday, Oct. 14 | 8 p.m. ET | Evanston, Ill. | McGrath-Phillips Arena
Ohio State at Northwestern (12-6, 2-4 B1G)
HISTORY WITH THE FIGHTING ILLINI & WILDCATS
Illinois has a slight 41-38 edge in the all-time series with Ohio State. The two teams first met in 1974 and the Buckeyes have won two of the last three contests. OSU dropped a 3-1 decision when the pair faced off in Champaign last season.
Over the past 42 years, the Buckeyes and Wildcats have battled on the court 75 times. Ohio State has won 55 of the outings, including the last five matches. During the home-and-home series a season ago, OSU swept Northwestern at St. John Arena before handing the Wildcats a 3-1 loss in Evanston.
BUCKEYES IN THE B1G
Hannah Gruensfelder bumped her average to 4.72 digs per set, which is good for second in the league. Taylor Hughes is also representing the Buckeyes with 10.23 assists per set (11th) while Lauren Witte averages 1.02 blocks per set (14th) and has a .356 hitting percentage (13th). As a team, Ohio State stands fourth in digs per set (15.10).
CAREER WATCH: TAYLOR HUGHES
Junior setter Taylor Hughes currently ranks eighth in program history with 2,865 assists. Her 43 helpers at Michigan (Sept. 29) got her ahead of Amanda Peterson (‘09-’12), who has 2,755 assists.
CARLSTON APPROACHING 400 WINS
Head coach Geoff Carlston has been in charge of three programs during his 18-year career, having spent the last 10 seasons at the helm for Ohio State. Carlston’s amassed 396 career wins and is on track to check off No. 400 this season.
NATIONAL TELEVISION EXPOSURE
Friday’s match vs. Illinois is one of five Buckeye matches televised on national television this season. Ohio State will be featured on ESPNU when Michigan comes to St. John Arena on Oct. 22.
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