Follow
The NCAA Tournament bracket is set beginning with the first opening round match between Ohio State and King.
Check out what to know about this playing match before filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket.
Ohio State (22-9, 11-3 MIVA) vs. King (16-15, 8-6 ConfCarolinas)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. Sunday in Fairfax, Virginia
Where to watch: ESPN3
Where to buy tickets: George Mason ticket office
How they reached the NCAA Tournament: Ohio State defeated Lindenwood, McKendree and Ball State in the MIVA Tournament to earn the conference’s automatic bid. King defeated Mount Olive, Erskine and North Greenville in the ConfCarolinas Tournament to earn the conference’s automatic bid.
All-time series: Ohio State leads 2-0
Last meeting in series: Ohio State swept King in 2020
NCAA Tournament appearances: Ohio State (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023); King (2018, 2023)
NCAA Tournament record: Ohio State (16-23); King (1-0)
NCAA championships: Ohio State (2011, 2016, 2017); King (none)
Ohio State player accolades this season: Jacob Pasteur (MIVA Player of the Year, First-Team All-MIVA); Shane Wetzel (MIVA Newcomer of the Year, Second-Team All-MIVA); Cole Young (First-Team All-MIVA)
King player accolades this season: Warren Davis (First-Team All-ConfCarolinas); Kellan Kennedy (Second-Team All-ConfCarolinas); Justin Sawyer (Third-Team All-ConfCarolinas)
Ohio State player to know: Outside attacker Jacob Pasteur, who spent the offseason playing with the U.S. Men’s National Team at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, is in the nation’s top 15 with a 3.82 kills per game average and is sixth in the MIVA hitting .321.
King player to know: Outside attacker Warren Davis is third in the ConfCarolinas and in the nation’s top 25 averaging 3.77 kills per game, including having a combined 70 kills in the ConfCarolinas Tournament.
Historical stats to know: Ohio State is 15-0 all-time against ConfCarolians, including beating King in the 2018 NCAA Tournament opening round match. The MIVA has always had at least one team reach the semifinals of every NCAA Tournament. King is attempting to become the second ConfCarolinas program to win a match in the NCAA Tournament.