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Facing a late-game deficit and multiple match-points did not faze Lindenwood.
Lindenwood overcame a three-point deficit in the decisive fifth game and fought off eight match-points as it defeated No. 11 Ohio State 25-19, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 22-20 on Saturday in St. Charles, Missouri.
The Lions trailed the final game 14-11 before forcing overtime with a 3-0 run that featured a kill from opposite Ian Schuller along with a kill and a block from outside attacker AJ Lewis. Schuller had kills on three more Ohio State match-point opportunities in overtime and then had the match-winning kill to cap off the 14-point overtime.
Schuller ended with a team-high 18 kills on a .389 attack percentage en route to Lindenwood (6-7, 4-2 MIVA) earning its win against a nationally ranked team this season.
Lindenwood only utilizing seven players the entire match had three finish with double-digit kills. Lewis contributed 14 kills, while outside attacker Clay Wieter had 11 kills with two of those kills coming in the fifth-game overtime.
Lewis also led all players with eight blocks, including four blocks coming in the final game.
Lindenwood out-blocked Ohio State 14.5 to 6. In addition, the Lions continue their streak of having at least 10 blocks in every conference victory so far this season.
Despite the loss, Ohio State out-hit Lindenwood .267 and .238 and had more than a .325 attack percentage in the second, third and fourth games. The Buckeyes (11-5, 4-2 MIVA), though, were limited to a .133 attack percentage in the final game.
Outside attacker Jacob Pasteur in the loss had both a match-high 25 kills on a .348 attack percentage and 17 digs. Opposite Shane Wetzel also contributed 13 kills and hit .385.
Both teams allowed a combined five aces.
Lindenwood libero Kyle Deutschmann led all players with 44 receptions and did not commit a reception error.
Lindenwood with this victory moved into a three-way tie with Ohio State and No. 12 Ball State for second place in the MIVA.
The Lions played this match in front of a conference season-best 523 people in attendance. The home crowd featured a large contingent of former Lindenwood men’s volleyball players who stormed the court in celebration following the match-winning kill.