Volleyball Hosts Fourth Annual Kent State/Mizuno Open
9/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
2011 KENT STATE MIZUNO OPEN
Friday, Sept. 9
Match 1: William & Mary vs. Robert Morris, 11 a.m. • Live Stats
Match 2: IUPUI at Kent State, 1 p.m. • Live Stats • Live Video
Match 3: IUPUI vs. William & Mary, 5 p.m. • Live Stats
Match 4: Robert Morris at Kent State, 7 p.m. • Live Stats • Live Video
Saturday, Sept. 10
Match 5: Robert Morris vs. IUPUI, 10 a.m. • Live Stats
Match 6: William & Mary at Kent State, 12 p.m. • Live Stats • Live Video
The Kent State volleyball team plays hosts to the fourth annual Kent State/Mizuno Open this weekend (Sept. 9-10) at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes welcome Robert Morris, IUPUI and William & Mary for a six-match showcase of NCAA volleyball. Stop by the Athletic Ticket Office in the M.A.C. Center or call (330) 672-2244 for more information.
Kent State is 6-3 all-time in the Kent State/Mizuno Open. The Flashes own an 11-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Colonials of Robert Morris and will be facing IUPUI and William & Mary for the first time in program history this weekend.
The Golden Flashes (5-4) are coming off a frantic 3-2 triumph over regional rival Cleveland State Tuesday (Sept. 6). Kent State righted its own ship after suffering through a two-match losing skid while sinking the Vikings (5-3). Kent State, which has played in five five setters in nine matches in 2011 and two in the last three matches, improved to 3-2 in contests that go the distance and 2-0 in protecting its home court. The Flashes have won their last four matches at the M.A.C. Center dating back to the 2010 season. Freshman Jenny Buczek (Orland Park, Ill.) led the way for a trio of freshmen who burst onto the scene in the victory over Kent State's neighbors from the Lake Erie shore. Buczek totaled a team and career-high 16 kills and added a service ace to lead the offensive charge as the Flashes outhit the Vikings, .236-.202. Freshmen Liz Reikow (Holland, Mich.) chipped in nine kills, four blocks (one solo, three assisted) and two service aces while classmate Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola (Ellicott City, Md.) added eight kills to the cause. The performance by the youngsters was aided by senior Maigan Larsen (Lancaster, Wis.) and junior Kathy Krupa (Burbank, Ill.). Larsen tallied eight kills while Krupa totaled a team and career-high nine blocks (three solo, six assisted) to go along with six kills. Sophomore Aleksandra Nowak (Damnica, Poland) directed the offense with a team-high 39 set assists while tallying eight kills. The team was led on the defensive end by senior Brooke Zeigler (Parkman, Ohio) and sophomore Hannah Herc (Eden, N.Y.), who totaled 16 and 13 digs, respectively.
Larsen leads the Flashes in kills (149) and kills per set (3.92) while Krupa sports a team-best hitting percentage of .370 on a squad that is attacking at a .226 clip. Krupa also leads the team in blocks with 42 (11 solo, 31 assisted). She has been named to the all-tournament teams at both the SIU Edwardsville Invitational and the Stony Brook Holiday Inn Express Tournament. The Flashes are 3-5 in tournament action this season.
Kent State travels to Canisius next Tuesday (Sept. 13) before closing out non-conference play with a home date Thursday (Sept. 15) against IPFW. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. starts.
