Sophomore setter Mia Tuman (9) reaches up to hit the ball in the Buckeyes’ (14-16, 7-13 B1G) regular season finale matchup against No. 15 Minnesota (20-10, 13-7 B1G) in Minneapolis Friday. The Buckeyes suffered a 1-3 loss to the Gophers. Credit: Ohio State Athletics
It was a disappointing end to the Buckeyes’ season.
Ohio State (14-16, 7-13 Big Ten) lost in four sets to No. 15 Minnesota (20-10, 13-7 Big Ten) Friday night at the Minnesota Maturi Pavilion.
Minnesota went on an early 5-0 run to take a 7-point lead, leading to a Buckeyes timeout while trailing 17-10.
Led by an ace from Londot and a kill from outside hitter Grace Egan, the Buckeyes rallied behind a 3-0 run to cut the Gophers lead to eight.
Minnesota then scored three of the final four points to win the first set 25-16.
The second set saw Minnesota go on yet another 5-0 run to take a 9-5 lead.
The Buckeyes rallied behind three straight points of their own to get within three, thanks to a kill and block from Rader and an ace from Tuman ace.
A 5-0 run helped the Buckeyes take a 3-point lead at 20-17, led by two kills from Londot.
The second set saw both teams matching one another, as both teams traded points until the set was deadlocked at 30.
Egan then earned a kill for set point at 31-30, followed by a shared block from Brandewie and Egan to win 32-30.
The Buckeyes found themselves down 10-1 early in the third set.
A 3-0 run for the Buckeyes, led by a kill from Brandewie and a kill following a Minnesota attack error from Sellman, brought the Buckeyes within five at 15-10. But the Golden Gophers scored three straight of their own to extend their lead to 18-10.
Egan got a kill after Minnesota reached set point in hopes of finding momentum, but a kill from Golden Gophers’ outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer closed the set 25-14.
The Buckeyes found themselves in another pit to dig themselves out of in the fourth set, as Minnesota scored the first six points.
Londot got a kill, and two aces helped the Buckeyes go on a 3-0 run and cut Minnesota’s lead to five at 12-7.
The Buckeyes called a timeout following a 6-1 Golden Gophers run to take an 18-8 lead. Libero Olivia Hasbrook got an ace after the timeout, but the efforts fell short. Minnesota scored the set’s final three points to win 25-15.
The Buckeyes finished the 2024 season with a 14-16 overall record and 7-13 in the Big Ten.
