Kent State University
9-9,3-2
Ohio University
14-3, 4-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 23 | 25 | 18 | 22 | 1 |
| Kent State | 25 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Golden Flashes Take Down No. 18 Ohio in Four Sets
10/10/2013 9:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
PHOTO GALLERY
KENT, Ohio – It was a historic evening at the M.A.C. Center on Thursday as the Kent State volleyball team defeated No. 18 Ohio, 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22). The win marks the first in the program's history over a nationally-ranked opponent. Sophomore Kelly Hutchison was stellar in the victory, posting a career-high 22 kills to lead the Flashes' attack and added nine digs to just miss a double-double.
"I think everyone needs to know that we're not the same program that we've been in the past, that you can't take us lightly, and even when you have a little bit of a lead, we're going to keep fighting until the end."
The Golden Flashes (9-9, 3-2) took it to the Bobcats from the onset. Senior Aleksandra Nowak opened with a pair of aces as the Flashes stormed out to a 5-0 lead and forced a timeout to be called. The early lead was enough as Kent State held off a run by Ohio to take the first set, 25-23.
After dropping the second set, the Flashes regrouped to take the third set in convincing fashion, 25-18. It looked like the match was headed for a fifth set as the Flashes trailed 17-22. However, Kent State responded following a timeout by Gromala to take the next eight points, as freshman Bianca Cifaldi sealed the deal with her fifth kill of the match.
Nowak turned in perhaps the best, and certainly most memorable, performance of her superb career at Kent State. She notched her sixth double-double of the year with 43 assists and 14 digs, while adding three total blocks and three aces. She did a terrific job of putting the ball in places for her teammates to put it away all night long, as a number of Flashes contributed on offense. Junior Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola posted 10 kills and junior Liz Reikow and sophomore Bridget Wilhelm added eight each.
Defensively, Kent State held a 72-61 advantage in digs. Senior Hannah Herc led the way with a match-high 15. Junior Kaylee Koller tallied 10 digs, while sophomore Sarah Mills provided a good contribution off the bench with eight digs in the final two sets. Wilhelm made an impact on the defensive end as well with seven total blocks.
The Flashes are the first team this season not to need the fifth set in defeating the Bobcats, whose only two losses entering the night came at the hands of Top 25 teams.
Kent State will get back on the road with a 7 p.m. contest Saturday at Central Michigan following an off day on Friday.
