Senior setter Taylor Sherwin (8) backsets to sophomore middle blocker Taylor Sandbothe (10) in a match against Northwestern on Saturday Oct.11 at St. Johns Arena. OSU won 3-1.
Credit: Abby Hofrichter / For The Lantern
Looking for its 20th win of the season, the Ohio State women’s volleyball team is set to play Minnesota in its final home game of the year Wednesday night.
The No. 20 Buckeyes (19-11, 10-8) are looking to send their senior class out with a win against the Golden Gophers (18-11, 8-10).
There are four seniors on this year’s women’s volleyball team: middle blocker Anna Faul, outside hitter Erin Sekinger, setter Taylor Sherwin and defensive specialist Alyssa Winner.
Sekinger, who is from Columbus, said that the she’ll miss the atmosphere inside St. John Arena.
“I’m just really excited to play my last home game at St. John Arena,” Sekinger said. “It’s just crazy in my four years being here, and we’re finishing with Minnesota, so we can get revenge on them from the beginning of the (Big Ten) season. I think it’s great to end with them.”
Freshman outside hitter Ashley Wenz also wants to send the seniors out on a positive note, but said she realizes that this isn’t the Buckeyes’ only game this week.
“Just with the goals that we set as a team, this next match on Wednesday is important, to just reaching our goals,” Wenz said. “It definitely would be nice to get a win, after our first game against them was so close.”
OSU lost in five sets to the then-No. 17 Golden Gophers in their first Big Ten contest of the season.
Wenz has also learned a lot this year, she said, as she is one of five freshmen on the women’s volleyball team, and one of two freshmen from Ohio.
“I’ve learned so much and improved so much just over the little time that I’ve been here,” she said.
Freshman outside hitter Luisa Schirmer, said that her first season playing for the Scarlet and Gray has been a great experience.
“I think it’s been a great experience, getting into the Big Ten and the atmosphere and fans are so cool, I’ve never played with that many fans at any of the matches we’ve been at,” Schirmer said. “Being around girls who love the sport as much as you do has just been awesome and our last match coming up at home on Wednesday, will be a little bittersweet because we’ve grown so fond of our seniors and it’s just showing that the season is coming to an end and we’ve gotta make the best of what’s left.”
Following Wednesday’s match, OSU is schedule to travel to Piscataway, N.J., to play Rutgers for the first time as Big Ten opponents. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start Saturday.
OSU is set to find out if it will compete in the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball tournament. The selection show is scheduled to air on ESPNU Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Teams in the top-16 will host first and second rounds games at their home gyms.
