Around the Oval: Francesca Di Lorenzo Defends USTA/ITA National Indoors Title and Taylor Sandbothe Breaks All-Time Career Blocks Record

By Magee Sprague on November 7, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Back to Back
via Ohio State Athletics, Twitter
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Ohio State excellence is not exclusive to the football field or the basketball court. Around the Oval is our way of keeping you informed of the amazing things happening with the other 34 varsity sports on campus.

di lorenzo goes back to back

Francesca Di Lorenzo, just a sophomore on the Ohio State women's tennis team, took home the USTA/ITA National Indoors Title on Sunday. Di Lorenzo is no stranger to this tournament, as she took home the same title last year as a freshmen. This marks the third national title for Di Lorenzo, a New Albany native, as well as the third ever for the Ohio State women's tennis program. The Buckeye triumphed over North Carolina's Hayley Carter in the finals, 6-1, 6-1, to become the back to back champion. 

“It feels great and I’m not going to lie, it’s a little bit of a relief,” Di Lorenzo said to the ITA. “Coming into this tournament I did feel some pressure, doing well last year. Coming here and being successful like I was last year is definitely exciting and I’m happy to be able to represent Ohio State here and do well and bring home a title for the university.”

This win gives Di Lorenzo an automatic spot in the USTA Pro Circuit Tournament and a place on the 2017 USTA Collegiate National Team. 

After this tournament, the women's tennis team won't be back in action until January 11 for the Daytona Beach 25k.

women's volleyball swept by the badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers swept the Buckeyes in St. John Arena last Thursday night. Wisconsin won the three sets 25-19, 26-24, 25-22. Taylor Sandbothe etched her name in the Ohio State records book as the all-time career blocks leader with the 518th block of her collegiate career. 

Ohio State came out swinging in the first half and held the lead, 17-16, after a five point run. However, the Bucks couldn't keep the Badgers at bay and ended up dropping the set by a five point deficit. The second set turned out to be more of a nail biter as the two teams battled back and forth until the very end when Wisconsin outlasted the home team 26-24. Ohio State had no problems scoring against the No. 3 team in the country, but couldn't seem to hold the powerful Badger attack off on the defensive front. Ohio State dropped the third set 25-22 in another close duel. Sandbothe made Buckeye history halfway through the third, scoring the 16th point for Ohio State with her record breaking block.

Ohio State dropped another one to the Hoosiers on the road on Saturday in four sets. Audra Appold and Sandbothe each had 21-point nights, but it wasn't enough to take down Indiana. After the two losses, Ohio State fell out of the top-25. There are currently six B1G teams ranked, including the top three teams in the nation: Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 

The Buckeyes will return home for back to back B1G contests against Rutgers and Penn State on November 11 and 12. 

women's hockey defeats lindenwood 3-0

The Ohio State women's hockey team took down Lindenwood in both games of the series 4-0 and 3-0 this weekend. After the series with Lindenwood, the women's hockey team is off to a 5-6-1 start.  

In the Friday night victory, Maddy Field, Ariana DePinto, Katie Mikkelsen, and Julianna Iafallo, all scored for the Buckeyes.  In the second game, Lauren Boyle was responsible for all three goals which marked her first career hat trick for the Buckeyes. Kassidy Suave marked up two shoutouts for the weekend, which makes three so far for the year. 

Next up Ohio State will travel to Minnesota on Friday to take on St. Cloud State. The team only has three series left until they kick off B1G play against Wisconsin. 

men's soccer comes to close

The Ohio State men's soccer team concluded its season on Sunday after a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin in the first round of the B1G tournament. The Buckeyes finished the season with an overall record of 5-13-1.

After losing a number of seniors after the B1G Championship season last year, this was a rebuilding year for the Scarlet and Gray. The Buckeyes introduced a lot of fresh faces to the roster that have great potential for growth in the coming years.

what's up next

  • 11/11 - Women's Volleyball vs. Rutgers
  • 11/11 - Women's Ice Hockey at St. Cloud State
  • 11/11 - Men's Ice Hockey vs. UConn
  • 11/12 - Women's Volleyball vs. Penn State 
  • 11/12 - Women's Ice Hockey vs. St. Cloud State 
  • 11/12 - Men's Ice Hockey vs. UConn

Go Bucks!

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