Volleyball Celebrates Historic 2015 Season
4/29/2016 4:15:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Prior to spring practice concluding this week, the Kent State volleyball program held its end-of-the-year celebration to reflect on the historic 2015 season this past Saturday.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
The 2015 campaign was highlighted by capturing a share of the first Mid-American Conference East Division title in program history. The Golden Flashes went 13-3 in MAC play, which included a 7-1 road record, and set a new school record for conference wins.
The Golden Flashes went 20-10 overall to achieve just the fourth 20-win season all-time and come within two wins of the most in program history. Kent State won a MAC Tournament match for the second consecutive season and reached the semifinals for the first time since 2007.
As a result of the team's success, Kent State set program records for All-MAC selections (5) and MAC Player of the Week recipients (10) to lead the conference in both awards.
SENIOR SENDOFF
โข The senior class of Kelly Hutchison, Sarah Mills, Morgan Semmelhack and Bridget Wilhelm were recognized one final time for their contributions to the program over the past four years.
โข The group became Kent State's first senior class to increase its conference win total each season and just the fourth senior class to increase its overall win total each season.
2015 SEASON AWARDS
Head coachย Don Gromalaย and his staff presented members of the team with several individual awards.
Most Outstanding Player: Kelly Hutchison and Kelsey Bittinger
All-MAC First Team selections, Hutchison and Bittinger ranked second and third, respectively, in the MAC in kills per set and points per set. Bittinger led all conference pins with a .274 hitting percentage and Hutchison was right behind her with a .260 hitting percentage. Defensively, Bittinger was second for the Flashes with 2.83 digs per set.
Most Offensive Player: Kelly Hutchison
Hutchison led Kent State in kills per set (3.71) and points per set (4.14) and led all pins with a .274 hitting percentage. She posted double-digit kills in 22 of 28 matches, which included five matches with at least 20 kills. Hutchison was sensational in a five-set victory against Albany with 32 kills, which ranks second in the Kent State record book and was tied for the 11th-most in a NCAA Division I match this season.
Most Defensive Player: Challen Geraghty
The AVCA All-Region and MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Geraghty ranked 6th in the country with 5.74 digs per set. Her 660 digs were just 16 short of the Kent State record. Geraghty matcher her career-high of 39 digs in helping the Flashes defeat Ohio in Athens for the first time since 2001 on November 5. She became the fastest player in program history to reach the 1,000-dig milestone and her 1,211 digs in just two seasons already ranks 6th all-time.
Most Improved Award: Drew Norberg
Junior Drew Norberg took home the Most Improved Award. Norberg moved into the starting lineup after appearing in just 14 sets over her first two seasons as a Golden Flash. In the first match of the season, she had six kills, which surpassed her career total entering the year. Norberg finished second on the team in hitting percentage (.293) and blocks per set (0.68) and added 2.03 kills per set. Her improvement did not just occur during the off-season, as she upped her level of play as the season progressed. Over the final 13 matches, Norberg posted a 3.80 hitting percentage and 2.69 kills per set.
Golden Heart Award: Brittney Jakscht
Sophomoreย Brittney Jakscht took home the Golden Heart Award, which is voted on by the team and awarded to the player who gives 100% effort at all times and displays heart in practices and matches.
Carrie Patterson Golden Brain: Kelsey Bittinger and Bridget Wilhelm
Named for the only two-time Academic All-American in program history, the Carrie Patterson Golden Brain is awarded to the player with the highest GPA during the fall semester. Bittinger and Wilhelm both earned a perfect 4.00 during Fall 2015.
