Kent State Volleyball Falls Short in Comeback Bid Against Liberty in Mizuno Classic Opener
9/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Golden Flashes unable to repeat 0-2 comeback performance, fall to Flames
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team suffered a 3-2 defeat to Liberty (28-26, 26-24, 25-27, 17-25, 15-11) Friday (Sep. 7) evening in its opening match of the Kent State Mizuno Classic at the M.A.C. Center.
The match closely resembled Kent State's come-from-behind victory over South Florida last weekend at The Midtown Classic in Raleigh, N.C. The Golden Flashes dropped two close sets to open the match and faced match point on two occasions before taking the third set. That momentum was used to force the final set, but Liberty refused to be the Flashes' second comeback victim in as many matches.
Sophomore outside hitter Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola (Ellicott City, Md.) had another terrific performance for the Golden Flashes, recording a single match career-best in kills for the second consecutive match. Aderemi-Ibitola had a match-high 22 kills to go with a .362 hitting percentage. She also tallied 11 digs in the match.
Freshman outside hitter Kelly Hutchison (Columbus, Ohio) matched her career-best of 19 kills, which she also set in Kent State's previous outing against South Florida. Junior setter Aleksandra Nowak (Damnica, Poland) recorded a season-best 60 assists and junior defensive specialist/libero Hannah Herc (Eden, N.Y.) led the Flashes with 20 digs one shy of her career mark.
Kent State fell behind, 8-4, early in the opening set against the defending Big South Conference champions, but battled back to take a 9-8 lead. The set remained close the rest of the way with Liberty taking a 24-21 advantage on a kill by freshman outside hitter Carolina Douglas and serving for set point. A Hutchison kill, ball handling error by Liberty, combined block by Hutchison and senior middle blocker Kathy Krupa (Burbank, Ill.), and kill by Hutchison put the Flashes ahead, 25-24. Following an attack error that evened the set, Hutchison recorded yet another kill for a 26-25 lead. Liberty would take the next three points, however, to close out the set.
The Golden Flashes led by as many as four points in the second set at 20-16. Liberty rallied and took a 24-23 lead after scoring on eight of the next 11 points. Aderemi-Ibitola recorded a kill to extend the set, but a service error and attack error by the Flashes on the ensuing points gave the set to the Flames.
With their backs against the wall, the Flashes led the majority of the third set. Holding to a 16-13 lead, they lost the next three points to allow the Flames to tie the set. An attack error by Liberty put Kent State ahead again, but the Flames took the next four points for a 20-17 lead. The Flashes would even the set at 22-22, but an attack error and service ace had them down to their final point of the match. Hutchison calmly delivered consecutive kills to even the set. Following a kill by Liberty's Loren Thomas, Ansley Green had an attack error for the Flames and the set was tied once more. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Engleman (Cincinnati, Ohio) then recorded two kills to keep the Flashes alive.
Tied 13-13 in the fourth set, Kent State rallied off six consecutive points to take control of the set. Once again, Engleman delivered the set-clinching point with an ace. Liberty opened the decisive set with a 7-1 lead and Kent State was unable to complete its comeback. The Golden Flashes made it interesting, however, coming as close as 13-10. A kill by Douglas shut the door on the Flashes and gave Liberty its eighth consecutive victory.
Douglas led the Flames with 16 kills, followed by 12 from Green. Junior setter Jade Craycraft delivered 45 assists. The defense was led by sophomore defensive specialist/libero Gabrielle Ship (19 digs) and junior middle blocker Kendle Rollins (seven blocks).
Kent State will return to action with a air of matches on Saturday (Sep. 8) to conclude the Kent State Mizuno Classic. The Flashes host St. Francis (Pa.) at 10:30 a.m. and take on Marshall in the event's finale at 5 p.m.
