--Flashes Sail Past Seawolves With A Sweep
9/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Larsen, Krupa lead the way with double-digit kill efforts.
STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- The Kent State volleyball team opened the Stony Brook Holiday Inn Express Tournament with a strong 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-16) sweep of host Stony Brook Friday (Sept. 2) at Pritchard Gymnasium.
The Golden Flashes (4-2) extended their winning streak to three with the victory over the Seawolves (0-4) in the first meeting between the programs. Kent State is undefeated on the road in 2011 with a 2-0 mark.
The duo of senior Maigan Larsen (Lancaster, Wis.) and junior Kathy Krupa (Burbank, Ill.) once again propelled Kent State's attack. Larsen led the way with a match-high 14 kills, marking the sixth time in six matches she has reached double digits in kills. Krupa recorded a match-high four blocks (four assisted) to go along with 10 kills. She has tallied double digits in kills in three straight matches and four times total this season. Sophomore Aleksandra Nowak (Damnica, Poland) quarterbacked the offense with a match-high 30 set assists. Sophomore Hannah Herc (Eden, N.Y.) led the defensive effort with a match-high 14 digs and gained the upper hand over her identical twin sister, Stony Brook's Hailee, in the first collegiate meeting between the two Senior Brooke Zeigler (Parkman, Ohio) also finished in double digits in digs with 13 in addition to leading the match with a career-high four service aces.
The Flashes sprinted out to an 11-4 lead in the first set thanks to three kills by Krupa, a kill and a service ace by Larsen and a kill by Herc. The Seawolves cut Kent State's advantage to three at 20-17 but a kill by Krupa, a double block by Krupa and Nowak, a solo block by Larsen and a kill by freshman Lauren Engleman (Cincinnati, Ohio) helped seal the set win.
Kent State fell behind Stony Brook quickly in the second set, staring up at a 9-2 deficit. Five kills by Larsen, two by freshman Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola (Ellicott City, Md.) one each by Krupa and Engleman and a double block by Larsen and Engleman helped the Golden Flashes claw back and even the score at 18-all. Two kills by Krupa and a solo block by Aderemi-Ibitola sealed the comeback set win.
The Flashes jumped ahead to a six-point advantage at 16-10 in the third set thanks to three kills apiece by Larsen and Krupa, two kills by Nowak and service aces by Herc and Zeigler. Kent State ran its edge to 12 points at 21-11 courtesy of a kill by Larsen and three straight service aces by Zeigler. Larsen closed out the sweep with two kills.
Kent State squares off with Rhode Island and Iona Saturday (Sept. 3) at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
The Golden Flashes return to the friendly confines Tuesday (Sept. 6) at the M.A.C. Center when the Golden Flashes host Cleveland State in a 7 p.m. meeting. Stop by the Athletic Ticket Office in the M.A.C. Center or call (330) 672-2244 for more information.
