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Post by OU-OhYeah! on Oct 19, 2007 21:39:42 GMT -5
If there was any doubt about Ohio's chances in the MAC, they were settled tonight. The Bobcats, co-leaders of the Eastern Division, took on Western Michigan, leaders of the Western Division. Ohio (16-4, 8-1) wins 30-26, 30-18, 30-22. Western Michigan falls to 16-7 (7-2).
Game 3 was as much a statement as the match. Western came out after the break determined to extend play. The Broncos took the lead early and held it through 16. Ohio took their first lead at 17-16 and appeared to move to 18-16 when down ref Linda Hamernik made one of the most bone-headed rulings I've ever seen. Ohio and Western rallied for several minutes, with the Bobcats eventually winning the point. Without any prompting from Broncos' coaches, Hamernik decided that Ohio setter Jill DeArmond was guilty of a backrow attack on a play at the net (that occurred about halfway through the point). DeArmond, rarely one to get upset, argued vehemently along with other players and Coach Carlston. Nevertheless, Erbe overturned the original ruling and the score reverted to 17-17. From that point Stephanie Blackburn took over. Ohio scored 13 of the next 18 points to put the match away.
On the night, Melissa Griffin led all hitters with 19 kills (.417). Stephanie Blackburn had 16 kills (.464) and 3 aces. Ellen Herman had 12 kills (.308). Ashley Vogl led WMU with 12 kills (.409).
Ohio draws big crowds on the road, as well as home. Western Michigan had its largest crowd (1,077) in three years. Also of note, it was quite different seeing Chuck Erbe as the up ref after watching him for years on the sideline.
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Post by dishdaball on Oct 19, 2007 22:29:45 GMT -5
If there was any doubt about Ohio's chances in the MAC, they were settled tonight. The Bobcats, co-leaders of the Eastern Division, took on Western Michigan, leaders of the Western Division. Ohio (16-4, 8-1) wins 30-26, 30-18, 30-22. Western Michigan falls to 16-7 (7-2). Game 3 was as much as statement as the match. Western came out after the break determined to extend play. The Broncos took the lead early and held it through 16. Ohio took their first lead at 17-16 and appeared to move to 18-16 when down ref Linda Hamernik made one of the most bone-headed rulings I've ever seen. Ohio and Western rallied for several minutes, with the Bobcats eventually winning the point. Without any prompting from Broncos' coaches, Hamernik decided that Ohio setter Jill DeArmond was guilty of a backrow attack on a play at the net. DeArmond, rarely one to get upset, argued vehemently along with other players and Coach Carlston. Nevertheless, Erbe overturned the original ruling and the score reverted to 17-17. From that point Stephanie Blackburn took over. Ohio scored 13 of the next 18 points to put the match away. On the night, Melissa Griffin led all hitters with 19 kills (.417). Stephanie Blackburn had 16 kills (.464) and 3 aces. Ellen Herman had 12 kills (.308). Ashley Vogl led WMU with 12 kills (.409). Ohio draws big crowds on the road, as well as home. Western Michigan had its largest crowd (1,077) in three years. Also of note, it was quite different seeing Chuck Erbe as the up ref after watching him for years on the sideline. Chuck Erbe as the up ref......wow..what a change in employment..... |
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Post by OU-OhYeah! on Oct 19, 2007 22:48:12 GMT -5
Chuck Erbe as the up ref......wow..what a change in employment..... I kept looking at him the whole match, thinking "where have I seen this guy before (probably reffing MAC matches)?" Then I saw the box score afterward and went "duh!" The Western Michigan and Michigan State men's club teams played a match following the women's contest. We were all standing around wondering why the officials from our match were calling the club match. I'm sure Erbe's old connection was probably the reason. |
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Post by dishdaball on Oct 19, 2007 23:02:31 GMT -5
Chuck Erbe as the up ref......wow..what a change in employment..... I kept looking at him the whole match, thinking "where have I seen this guy before (probably reffing MAC matches)?" Then I saw the box score afterward and went "duh!" The Western Michigan and Michigan State men's club teams played a match following the women's contest. We were all standing around wondering why the officials from our match were calling the club match. I'm sure Erbe's old connection was probably the reason. Probably had one of the best referees you'll see all season....still doesn"t account for the loss against Miami...in a weaker league...I'd bet Dayton would give Ohio a run at this point...... |
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Post by OU-OhYeah! on Oct 19, 2007 23:13:49 GMT -5
Probably had one of the best referees you'll see all season....still doesn"t account for the loss against Miami...in a weaker league...I'd bet Dayton would give Ohio a run at this point...... What the heck is the connection between Erbe reffing and losing to Miami? What a ridiculous statement! As for Dayton, wouldn't be surprised if we find out come tournament time. For what it's worth, we played them in the last spring tournament back in April. They were probably the toughest competition in a field that featured Illinois, Northwestern, Cincinnati, and Xavier. Ohio won the match without much struggle and went undefeated in the tournament. And, no, Chuck Erbe didn't referee. |
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Post by Kokopelli on Oct 19, 2007 23:19:41 GMT -5
Chuck Erbe as the up ref......wow..what a change in employment..... ...The Western Michigan and Michigan State men's club teams played a match following the women's contest. We were all standing around wondering why the officials from our match were calling the club match. I'm sure Erbe's old connection was probably the reason. Nah, no matter how good of an official he's become -- and he IS as good with the whistle as he was with a clipboard -- it's not likely that Chuck would have been Sante's first choice if it were a home match. Just happened to work out this time. |
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 20, 2007 1:46:09 GMT -5
It isn't surprising that Ohio rolled in this one. The teams that dominate conferences tend to win matches like this one, showing the upstarts that they are pretenders.
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Post by smiley on Oct 20, 2007 8:02:29 GMT -5
The idea of Erbe as a referee is just scary.
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Post by Gorf on Oct 20, 2007 8:18:26 GMT -5
The idea of Erbe as a referee is just scary. I saw him listed as the up ref in Big Ten match or twoas well. Which means if he was reffing in tandem with someone else for Friday / Saturday night matches that he would potentially be the down ref for one of the two matches as well. It would be interesting to see him ref just to see if he gives cards as often as he received them while he was coaching.  |
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Post by OU-OhYeah! on Oct 20, 2007 8:23:21 GMT -5
It isn't surprising that Ohio rolled in this one. The teams that dominate conferences tend to win matches like this one, showing the upstarts that they are pretenders. I'm not sure that I would classify Western Michigan as an upstart. They have a long history of performing well. In fact, it is their record for consecutive titles that Ohio chases. They always battle the Bobcats. In 2004, Ohio's first title year, WMU had a 2-0 lead in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament. Ohio managed to regroup and pull out the match. I find Kalamazoo to be one of the most dangerous MAC venues. They have very knowledgeable fans that know how/when to cheer. |
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Post by OU-OhYeah! on Oct 20, 2007 8:26:34 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see him ref just to see if he gives cards as often as he received them while he was coaching. Hee hee! Hadn't thought of that. Actually, I thought he did a very nice job. Very few questionable calls and they were mostly on the other side of the net. I think it would've been funny had Western Michigan had a pep band. Erbe used to despise them. When he came into Illinois, he would routinely use the coin toss to change sides so his team could play on the end opposite the band. Every time he did it, the band would just switch ends as well. |
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