COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Wildcats run for another title season started against another tough historic program. Fort Valley State pushed Ohio State hard and fell in three close sets, 3-0, in the men's volleyball season opener Friday night.
Jaxon Hicks gave FVSU (0-1) a set point, 24-23, in the first set. Ohio State, though, put the enusing three points on the scoreboard and edged out the 26-24 final. For the second set in a row, the Wildcats held a late lead of 21-19 after a Hicks kill and Isaiah Fedd service ace. The Buckeyes, again, answered with six of the final seven tallies and 25-22 final. FVSU led the third set midway through at both 11-10 znd 12-11, but Ohio State turned a 21-19 edge into a second 25-22 final ending the match.
Fedd paced the FVSU attack with 13 kills, hit .321, dug five attacks and had the service ace. Hicks contributed seven winners at a .313 hit rate and had six digs.
Raheem Thomas downed four kills with a .444 percent, two digs and an ace. Jamil Scott chipped in four digs, three kills, an ace and an assist. Muhammad Mbaye added three kills and two blocks.
Oshane Farquharson handed out 21 assists in his first start at setter to go with four digs, three kills and a block. Jaequon Henderson dug eight attacks and assisted on one kill.
FVSU completes its two-game set at Ohio State on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11, in a 3 p.m. first serve.
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