Postseason play has arrived. The Ohio State University women’s volleyball program rolls out to Manhattan, Kan., for the NCAA Tournament opening weekend, facing Missouri State in the first round on Friday (Dec. 2) at 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET. The victor in that contest advances to face either No. 14-seed and host Kansas State or Lipscomb in Round Two Saturday (Dec. 3) evening at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET.
WEEKLY BASICS Friday, Dec. 2 – 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET – Manhattan, Kan. (Bramlage Coliseum) Ohio State (20-12, 10-10 Big Ten) vs. Missouri State (26-8, 16-2 MVC) Live Stats Video Broadcast: ESPN3
Saturday, Dec. 3 – 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET – Manhattan, Kan. (Bramlage Coliseum) No. 14 Kansas State (20-9, 9-7 Big 12) vs. Lipscomb (22-7, 12-2 A-Sun) Live Stats Video Broadcast: ESPN3
NCAA TOURNAMENT BY THE NUMBERS • 5 | Ohio schools in the NCAA Tournament, second most (Texas, 6) • 5 | ‘Sweet 16’ appearances for Coach Carlston in 14 seasons as a Division-I head coach • 8 | Big Ten schools in the NCAA Tournament, tied with the Pac-12 for most in the country • 11 | Programs nationally, including Ohio State, to reach the Regionals four times or more since 2010 • 11 | Ohio State opponents faced in 2016 whom qualified for the NCAA Tournament • 15 | Ohio State advancements to the Regionals (‘Sweet 16’) • 18 | Kansas State final RPI ranking • 22 | All-time Ohio State appearances in the NCAA Tournament • 33-21 (.611) | Ohio State all-time record in the NCAA Tournament • 34 | Ohio State final RPI ranking • 44 | Missouri State final RPI ranking • 52 | Lipscomb final RPI ranking • 500 | Friday’s first set will mark the 500th of Valeria León’s career
ALL-BIG TEN TEAM TAYLORS Taylor Sandbothe earned her second straight unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten Team earlier this week, voted on by the conference’s 14 head coaches. Taylor Hughes picked up All-Big Ten honorable mention.
This marks the 30th consecutive season in which at least one Buckeye has received postseason laurels from the conference office. Thirty-five different OSU student-athletes have now been tabbed All-Big Ten a total of 76 times since 1983. Hughes’ followed up her B1G All-Freshman squad accolades in 2015 by garnering honorable mention as a sophomore in ’16.
SISTER ACT The Sandbothe Family received quite the surprise Sunday night when the 64-team bracket was announced. Older sister Taylor’s Buckeyes were being sent to the home arena of younger sister Elle’s Kansas State Wildcats with the potential of a second round clash.
HISTORY WITH THE BEARS, WILDCATS, BISON Ohio State has a combined 8-5 record all-time against the three potential opponents in the Kansas State NCAA pod. The Buckeyes own advantages of 4-1 and 2-0 over the Wildcats and Lipscomb, respectively, while dropping four of six previous meetings with Missouri State. Ohio State traveled to Springfield, Mo., earlier this season (Sept. 9), falling in a five-setter. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are riding a four-match winning streak over Kansas State, but last met 20 years ago in 1996. Both clashes against the Bison have come in the NCAA Tournament, opening round victories in 2010 and 2014.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION – #OSUWVBtribe Social media users are encouraged to join the Ohio State Women’s Volleyball conversation by utilizing the #OSUWVBtribe hashtag. Hear directly from members of the program weekly at OhioStateBuckeyes.com with a video series titled “#OSUWVBtribe Talk.”
COLUMBUS — THE CITY THAT CROWNS CHAMPIONS The 2016 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship will be held in Nationwide Arena. The NCAA Semifinals are contested on Dec. 15, followed two days later by the crowning of a national champion on Saturday, Dec. 17, in front of a national television audience on ESPN. Tickets are ON SALE NOW! In addition, volleyball fans can also look forward to the 2017 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship which is also being hosted in Ohio’s capital city (St. John Arena — May 4-6, 2017).
News courtesy of Ohio State Athletics.
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