Senior outside hitter Maxime Hervoir (10) of the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes attacks the net against Quincy on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. The Buckeyes defeated the Hawks in three sets. Credit: Magee Sprague | For The Lantern
The Ohio State men’s volleyball team (20-5, 11-3 MIVA) begins MIVA tournament play on Saturday against the Quincy Hawks (12-18, 0-14 MIVA) at St. John Arena.
As an eight seed in the tournament, the Hawks were defeated handedly by the Buckeyes twice in the regular season, losing 3-0 in both matches. Though Quincy finished with 12 wins during the regular season, none of them came in conference play.
Despite having many new players on the roster, head coach Pete Hanson said he was proud his team finishing first in the conference and clinching home-court advantage for both the quarterfinal and semifinal games.
“We put ourselves in the position to host the playoffs here in Columbus as long as we keep winning,” Hanson said. “All the new faces that we put on the floor this year and having them come together and accomplish that is a pretty big thing.”
Saturday night’s match will kick off tournament week, something senior outside hitter Maxime Hervoir said he’s looking forward to, even with all the outside stress of the Spring Semester winding down.
“It’s the hardest part,” he said. “You have all the school stuff that is going on and at the same time the finals, the final papers, all that stuff, and you have to really handle everything at the same time—but that’s what makes it the best because it’s the most intense thing.”
Hervoir said it’s important for the team to go back to what it has done all season.
“It’s important to remember that if we are here it’s cause we deserve it and that we can actually win and remember our potential,” Hervoir said. “We are a good team, we’re a really good team—and also remember to play together because that’s how we’re going to win.”
If the Buckeyes beat Quincy, they will play the winner of the Lewis and Fort Wayne quarterfinal matchup. Ball State, McKendree, Lindenwood and Loyola will be competing for a spot in the final on the other side of the bracket.
Ohio State will take on Quincy in the MIVA quarterfinal at St. John Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday.
