Mastodons Head to Columbus for MIVA Match

On Feb 18, 2022

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball team travels to Columbus, Ohio for a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match against No. 14 Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 20 (3 p.m.).

The Mastodons play five of the next six matches on the road.

Sunday at Ohio State
WHEN: Sunday, February 20 | 3 p.m. ET
WHERE: Columbus, Ohio | Covelli Center
LIVE STATS: Stats
BTN+: Link
SERIES HISTORY: Buckeyes lead series 77-40

Know Your Foe
Ohio State heads into Sunday’s match ranked No. 14 in the AVCA poll. The Buckeyes boast a 4-6 overall record and are off to an 0-3 start in the MIVA. They’ve suffered losses against McKendree, Lewis, and Loyola Chicago to start conference play.

Since starting the season 4-1, the Buckeyes are on a five-match losing streak, and have lost six of their last seven matches.

Jacob Pasteur leads the Buckeyes in total kills (142), kills per set (3.64) and hits .220. Samuel Clark is the other Buckeye to have 100+ total kills (117) and 3.0+ kills per set (3.08). Noah Platfoot leads in assists per set (9.58), and Parker Mikesch leads in digs per set (2.26).

Double Trouble

This season, the ‘Dons have three players with double-doubles. In his first start of his career against St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, Jan. 22, freshman setter Zach Solomon earned his first career double-double with 37 assists and 12 digs. Less than a week later, he notched his second double-double with 37 assists and 13 digs in a win against Saint Fracnis (PA) on Friday, Jan. 28. The following day, Jon Diedrich earned his first double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs Diedrich would earn a second double-double in their win against Sacred Heart. He had 16 kills and 10 digs. Most recently, Vicente Ibarra earned his second career double-double against No. 7 Ball State with 14 kills and 10 digs.

That’s A Lot of Matches
Heading into Sunday’s match, the Mastodons and Buckeyes have faced off 117 times, with the first meeting dating back to Feb. 13, 1981. There is no opponent the ‘Dons have played more than the Buckeyes. The only other opponent the ‘Dons have faced more than 100 times is Ball State (110 matches).

Up Next
The Mastodons will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 24 (7 p.m.) against Lewis in Romeoville, Ill. Following Thursday’s match, the ‘Dons host McKendree on Saturday, Feb. 26 (6 p.m.) at the Gates Sports Center on Arnie Ball Court.

~Feel The Rumble~