APRIL 30, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: RUDY YOVICH, SID
260-481-6646

Mastodons Fall in MIVA Final

Chicago, IL- Ohio State (24-7) defeated IPFW (13-17), 3-1 with scores of 30-23, 30-18, 27-30, 30-24 to clench the 2005 MIVA Championship crown. The Buckeyes will now travel to Los Angeles to NCAA Final Four.

The Buckeyes had four players hit double-digits with Andy Cole leading the way with 19 kills and 3 service aces. Three players, Mark Greaves, Mike Wauligman, and Layne Dreven all recorded 10 kills apiece. Leading the defensive was Scott Spurlock with a match-high 11 block assists for the evening. Setter Daniel Mathews, knocked out 7 kills, 51 assists and 5 block assists.

Matt Zbyszewski had a match-high 21 kills, 5 digs and 5 blocks (1 solo, 4 assisted) with Serdar Sikca pounding out 11 kills, hitting .409 and team-high 8 blocks (2 solo, 6 assisted).

Game one was dominated by the Buckeyes as they hit .419 while the Mastodons were held .103. Wauligman had three straight kills to take the lead from 27-23 to 29-23 when a kill by Dreven finished off the first game. In game two the Buckeyes kept the momentum going as they hit .429, as Greaves and Cole both collected 5 kills apiece.

The Mastodons took game three, improving to a .235 attack percentage with the Buckeyes falling to .000 (12-12-27). Zbyszewski led the way with 8 kills to hold off OSU. For the final game, the two teams battle back and fourth, tying up the score 19-19. Sam Stevens stepped for the Buckeyes to land two consecutive kills from Mathews, giving OSU the lead. From then on they took control, sealing the win with a Cole kill.

The Buckeyes hit .303 for the match, while the Mastodons .222, with OSU recording 63 assists and IPFW had 46 assists. Defensively, OSU had 15 team blocks, while IPFW had 13.

OSU will travel to Los Angeles to battle it out in the NCAA Final Four May 5-7.

2005 MIVA All-Tournament Team:
Krystian Krzyzak, Loyola
Matt Zbyszewski, IPFW
Serdar Sikca, IPFW
Andy Cole, Ohio State
Layne Dreven, Ohio State
Daniel Mathews, Ohio State, MVP

Courtesy of Loyola-Chicago Sports Information

~Dons~