Volleyball Set for Golden Grizzlies Invitational
9/14/2017 4:54:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โ Kent State looks for a strong finish to the non-conference schedule when the volleyball team heads to Rochester, Michigan this weekend for the Golden Grizzlies Invitational.
The Golden Flashes (1-7) will play host Oakland to start the tournament Friday at 6 p.m. Kent State then has an early wake-up call for a 10 a.m. contest Saturday against unbeaten Towson (11-0) before taking on Fort Wayne at 5 p.m.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 15
6 p.m. ย ย Kent State at Oakland โ Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 16
10 a.m. Kent State vs. Towson โ Live Stats
5 p.m. ย ย Kent State vs. Fort Wayne โ Live Stats ย โข ย Audio
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State fell to Butler and College of Charleston in straight sets during the Golden Flashes Classic this past weekend at the M.A.C. Center. Friday's match against Butler kicked off Kent State Athletics' live event broadcasts on ESPN3.
Senior libero Challen Geraghty became Kent State's second player with 2,000 career digs late in the first set against Butler. Geraghty finished the weekend with 34 digs (5.67/set) and was perfect in 35 service receptions.
The floor defense was a bright spot for the Flashes, who posted 18.33 digs per set. Sophomore defensive specialist Claire Tulisiak totaled 21 digs (3.50/set) and senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger added 19 digs (3.17/set). Freshman defensive specialist Kaeleigh Stang had a career-high 10 digs against Butler.
Bittinger paced the offense with 24 kills (4.00/set). Senior opposite Heather Younkin added 11 kills (2.20/set). Freshman Natalie Tagala and senior Brittney Jakscht both saw action at setter. Tagala led the way with 27 assists (5.40/set) and Jakscht had 20 assists (5.00/set).
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSย
Kent State is 6-4 all-time against the tournament field.
The Golden Flashes defeated Oakland, 3-1 (17-25, 31-29, 25-16, 25-21) at the M.A.C. Center. Current Kent State seniors Kelsey Bittinger (18 kills, 20 digs) and Challen Geraghty (25 digs) all played key roles in the victory.
Kent State is 3-1 all-time against Towson with the Bulldogs winning the last matchup, 3-1, in 2014. The Flashes were victorious in the lone matchup played on a neutral court, 3-2, in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1994.
The Flashes are 2-3 all-time against Fort Wayne. The Mastadons defeated Kent State, 3-0, over opening weekend of sixth-year head coach Don Gromala's head coaching tenure.
UP NEXT
Kent State renews its rivalry with Akron to start Mid-American Conference play next weekend at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Golden Flashes and Zips will play Friday night and the Flashes will then head to Buffalo for a Saturday match.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and updates about the squad.
