Competitive Spirit on Display in Blue & Gold Scrimmage
8/16/2016 11:15:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โ A match that included 23 ties, 10 lead changes and plenty of friendly banter between squads, Blue fought back for a 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11) victory in Kent State's annual Blue and Gold Scrimmage Tuesday evening at the M.A.C. Center.
The exhibition provided the Golden Flashes with an opportunity to put together what they have worked on during the first week-plus of preseason camp in a game-like setting.
"Our team has made good progress in the short time we've been together," said head coach Don Gromala. "Today was our first day of training camp that the entire team participated, and we were happy with how both sides competed.ย We still have some work to do offensively as we get comfortable with new plays and tempos."
Both teams had 58 kills and 53 assists, while Gold held a slight edge in service aces (7-5) and digs (98-92).
Junior Kelsey Bittinger led the winners with 21 kills while adding 22 digs and four blocks on defense. Junior Heather Younkin also recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 14 digs.
The Blue squad held Gold to just a .095 hitting percentage with terrific defense at the net (17 blocks) and in the back row (92 digs). Younkin led the way with eight blocks, while junior Amber Gerdeman added seven Bittinger and freshman Annie Ennesser added five stuffs apiece. Junior Challen Geraghty led all players with 29 digs and senior Maddie Moxley tallied 16.
Senior Drew Norberg led Gold with 15 kills. Redshirt freshman Darby Connors (12 kills, 11 digs) and sophomore Lexi Mantas (10 kills, 21 digs) notched double-doubles.
Freshman Claire Tulisiak paced Gold with 23 digs, just edging sophomore Sam Jones (22 digs).
Setters Katarina Kojic and Brittney Jakscht swapped teams following the second set. Kojic had 47 assists, while Jakscht totaled 46 assists and 10 digs.
The Flashes open the regular season at the Holiday Inn Express/UCF Invitational next weekend (Aug. 26-27). Kent State then returns to the M.A.C. Center for the Golden Flashes Classic the following weekend (Sept. 2-3).
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased for just $35. Call the Kent State Ticket Office at 330-672-2244 to order or for more information visit KentStateSports.com. ย
