Kent State University
Ball State University
Volleyball to ‘Dig for the Cure’ Saturday vs. Toledo
10/16/2013 11:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team will host its annual 'Dig for the Cure' match against Toledo on Saturday (Oct. 19) as the Golden Flashes return to the M.A.C. Center for a pair of Mid-American Conference contests this weekend.
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Golden Flashes will be raising funds to support the J.D. Breast Cancer Foundation. The Cleveland-based organization helps low-income women in Northeast Ohio make ends meet while going through cancer treatments.
"We feel that 'Dig for the Cure' is a great way to raise awareness for breast cancer," said head coach Don Gromala. "It is a great opportunity to those that are currently battling and have beaten cancer."
The volleyball team has been selling pink 'Dig for the Cure' t-shirts in the student center throughout the week. T-shirts cost $10 and all proceeds will go to the J.D. Breast Cancer Foundation. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase t-shirts at both Friday's match against Ball State and Saturday against Toledo.
Fans who make it out to the M.A.C. Center to support the cause will have the opportunity to participate in one of the promotions being held on Saturday. Volleyball bingo makes its return with a chance to win $25,000! Bingo cards will be given to the first 500 fans, and a full card will pay $25,000.
The Golden Flashes will be wearing pink hair ribbons, socks, and other accessories, and fans are encouraged to join them by sporting pink a attire. There will be a 'pinkest fan' contest with the winner receiving a gift card.
One of the conference's most-improved teams from a year ago, Kent State earned a signature victory over No. 18 Ohio, 3-1, last Thursday. The Flashes then went on the road and swept Central Michigan, 3-0, on Saturday to sit just one game out of first place in the MAC East standings.
Sophomore OPP Kelly Hutchison garnered MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week accolades after two stellar performance last week. Hutchison delivered a career-high 22 kills to lead the Flashes past the No. 18 Bobcats. She also added nine digs to come up just short of her third double-double of the season.
Live stats and a web stream will be available online for both matches this weekend.
Flash Facts
- Kent State enters the weekend having won three consecutive matches, losing just a single set in the process. The Golden Flashes swept Miami and Central Michigan and earned a 3-1 victory over No. 18 Ohio.
- Last Thursday's win was the Flashes' first over a nationally-ranked squad and was also the first time they topped the Bobcats since 2002.
- Kent State has enjoyed a terrific home court advantage thus far with a 5-1 record at the M.A.C. Center. One win this weekend will secure a wining home season for the Flashes for the first time since 2009.
- Senior S Aleksandra Nowak has played some of the best volleyball of her career in conference matches this season. Nowak is averaging 11.04 assists/set in conference play, which is 5th in the MAC, and a career-best 9.99 assists/set on the year. She needs just three assists to become Kent State's 4th player to amass 3,000 career assists.
- Senior DS/L Hannah Herc has anchored an improved defense for the Flashes, which has out-dug 11 of its last 13 opponents. Herc is tied for 6th in the MAC with 4.91 digs/set in conference play and needs just 16 digs to move past Lauren Jones for 5th on the school's all-time list.
- It has been quite a debut season for OH Bianca Cifaldi, whose 2.93 kills per set rank second on the team. Cifaldi posted double-figure kills in 13 consecutive matches and is just the 7th freshman in program history to eclipse 200 kills.
- Junior MB Liz Reikow is developing into one of the most dominant forces at the net in the conference. Over the past 8 matches, Reikow is posting 2.65 kills per sean, 0.84 blocks per set, while hitting .310.
Scouting This Week's Opponents
Ball State (17-4, 5-1)
- This will be the 48th all-time meeting between the schools, with Ball State holding a 37-10 advantage in the series.
- Ball State has already surpassed last season's win total (14). After getting off to a 3-3 start this year, the Cardinals won 11 straight before falling to Toledo on Oct. 3. They enter the weekend on a 3-match winning streak and in sole possession of first place in the MAC West.
- The Cardinals feature one of the conference's most dynamic offenses, ranking 9th in the nation with a MAC-leading 14.66 kills/set. Four players contribute at least 2.00 kills/set, led by OH Alex Fluelling (3.79)
- Ball State also boasts one of the MAC's top defenses, ranking second in the conference in both opponent attack percentage (.142) and digs (15.90/set). The defense is anchored by DS Catie Fredrich, who is 4th in the MAC with 4.64 digs/set on the season.
- S Jacqui Seidel is averaging 9.09 assists/set, which is 6th in the conference.
Toledo (11-9, 4-2)
- This will be the 52nd all-time meeting between the schools, with Toledo leading the series 27-24.
- After opening the MAC season with road losses to Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan, Toledo has won its last 4 conference matches, all at home.
- OH Lauren Rafdal has been among the MAC's top offensive players in conference play. Rafdal averages a MAC-best 4.67 kills/set in conference play and owns the two top kill performances this season. She posted 28 kills in a 4-set win against Ball State and 27 kills last Friday against Northern Illinois.
- S Andria Pryor is 3rd in the MAC at 10.44 assists/set on the season.
- MB Dakota Harkins average 1.01 blocks/set, which is 7th in the MAC.
Next Up
Kent State heads back on the road next weekend with matches at West Division foes Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
