Sarah Wilhite leads No. 2 Gophers over Ohio State in volleyball

The No. 2 Gophers volleyball team struggled a bit but ultimately defeated Ohio State 25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-22 on Saturday night in a Big Ten match at the Sports Pavilion.

Sarah Wilhite led the Gophers with 15 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Alexis Hart added nine kills, and Molly Lohman and Hannah Tapp had seven apiece.

Minnesota (10-11, 2-0 Big Ten) outhit the No. 17 Buckeyes .230 to .162, but Ohio State had more kills (53-47) and almost as many digs (62-59).

An ace by the Buckeyes (10-4, 0-2) gave them a 19-18 lead in the fourth set before a 5-0 Gophers run. Wilhite, a senior outside hitter from Eden Prairie, had kills for Minnesota's final three points of the match.

The Gophers men's and women's cross-country teams both placed ninth in their races in the Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Course.

The men totaled 259 points in the Gold Division I race, led by runner-up Matt Welch, a junior who finished in 25 minutes, 7.7 seconds, or 1.3 seconds behind the winner.

Obsa Ali, another Gophers junior, placed sixth (25.16.5).

In other Griak races:

• St. Olaf was second and St. Thomas third in the women's Maroon Division III race. Kimber Meyer of Macalester finished second.

• Minnesota Duluth was second in the women's Maroon Division II race, led by Emilee Trost and Breanna Colbenson, who were second and third, respectively.

• Hamline was fourth in the men's Maroon Division III race won by Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

• Augustana (S.D.) won the men's Maroon Division II race behind Glen Ellingson, who finished third.