Kent State University
University at Buffalo
Flashes Return to M.A.C. Center to Start MAC Volleyball Season
9/22/2016 3:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center on a season-best three-match winning streak for the beginning of the Mid-American Conference season this weekend. The Golden Flashes will take on Buffalo at 7 p.m. Friday and then clash with rival Akron at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The defending co-MAC East Division champions take a 7-6 record into the conference season and have an early opportunity to show they are ready for a repeat with the first five matches coming against divisional opponents.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, September 23
7 p.m. Buffalo at Kent State – Live Stats • Video • Golden Flashes Radio
Saturday, September 24
6 p.m. Akron at Kent State – Live Stats • Video • Golden Flashes Radio
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State went unbeaten at the Comfort Inn-vitational last weekend with sweeps of Montana and host Morehead State on Friday and a five-set triumph over Coppin State on Saturday. Sam Jones, Katarina Kojic and Drew Norberg were all named to the all-tournament team. The Golden Flashes averaged 13.45 kills per set compared to only 10.18 by their opponents and also held the opposition to a collective .117 hitting percentage. For the second time this season, Kent State held an opponent to a .000 hitting percentage as Morehead State
Drew Norberg continued her strong play in the middle and averaged 3.09 kills per set while hitting .409, earning her MAC East Offensive Player of the Year honors. Darby Connors posted 3.00 kills per set for the weekend, which included a career-high 18 kills vs. Coppin State. Kelsey Bittinger contributed on both sides of play with averages of 2.78 kills and 2.22 digs per set, while Heather Younkin added 2.36 kills per set. After playing briefly in just two sets on Friday, Lexi Mantas stepped up and delivered a career-best 13 kills over the final three sets vs. Coppin State. Mantas hit .519 for the weekend and averaged 2.33 kills per set.
Setter Katarina Kojic handed out 12.0 assists per set and added 2,10 digs per set. Kojic, who is in her second season at Kent State after playing at College of Southern Idaho for two years, moved into seventh in program history with 1,624 career assists over the weekend, passing Nicole Parry (1991-92) and Barb Baker (1987-88).
Challen Geraghty led the back row with 4.64 digs per set, while Sam Jones was steady and averaged 3.09 digs per set. Jones posted a career-high 15 digs vs. Coppin State and 3 aces vs. Montana.
FLASHES IN MAC OPENERS
Kent State is 13-23 all-time in MAC openers. The Golden Flashes dropped a five-setter to Miami to start conference play last season at the M.A.C. Center. The last victory in a conference opener was in 2013, a 3-2 contest at Akron. Kent State and Buffalo have met for a MAC opener just once, a 3-1 Flashes victory in 2005.
M.A.C. CENTER MAGIC
Kent State seeks to continue its success at the M.A.C. Center, where it has won nearly 70 percent of its matches (26-12) dating back to the start of the 2013 season. The Golden Flashes recorded nine home victories in 2014, which marked the most since 2002. In 2013, Kent State fed off the energy from the home crowd to defeat No. 18 Ohio for the program's first win against a nationally-ranked team.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo (1-12) snapped a 16-match skid by taking down Bucknell, 3-2, on Saturday. The Bulls enter the conference season having won only 10 sets in 13 matches. Buffalo ranks last in the MAC in several statistical categories, including hitting percentage, kills per set, assists per set, aces per set and digs per set.
Outside hitter Valisha Watkins leads the Bulls at 2.35 kills per set but is hitting just .064 and has nearly twice as many attempts as any of her teammates. Middle blocker Cassie Shado ranks second in the MAC with a .380 hitting percentage and adds 1.92 kills per set. Libero Hannah Watson averages a team-best 4.04 digs per set and right side hitter Megan Wernette leads the way at 1.00 blocks per set.
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron (5-7) is coming off of its first winning weekend of the season at the West Virginia Invitational. The Zips defeated Dartmouth and Winthrop along with a loss to host West Virginia. Akron ranks fifth in the MAC in aces per set (1.24) and sixth in kills per set (12.57), while coming in last in blocks per set (1.52).
Right side hitter Amanda Bedell leads Akron with 2.80 kills per set and three other Zips enter the weekend averaging at least 2.20 kills per set. Setter Karley Kusan is averaging 9.57 assists per set and is second on the team with 2.79 digs per set. The defense is led by liero Breanna Mack (3.33 digs per set) and Jessica Kloehn (1.04 blocks per set).
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State leads the all-time series with both Akron and Buffalo with a combined 71-43 mark.
The Flashes own a dominant 30-9 all-time mark against the Bulls, including five straight victories. Kent State has defeated the Bulls in each of their last nine visits to the M.A.C. Center with Buffalo's last win coming in 2005 (3-1).
Kent State is 41-34 against the Zips and has won six straight in the series. The Flashes won both of last year's matches in three sets.
SEASON TICKETS
Ace Season Flex Passes 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.
