Kent State Completes Winning Weekend at Thunder Invite

Saturday, September 14

Huntington, W. Va.

10:00 a.m.

Kent State University

3-5

Southern Illinois University

3-7

Southern Illinois

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Kent State Completes Winning Weekend at Thunder Invite

9/14/2013 11:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – The Kent State volleyball team secured it first winning weekend of the 2013 campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Southern Illinois (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) early Saturday morning. The Golden Flashes came up just short of a weekend sweep at the Thunder Invitational, falling in a five-setter to host Marshall (20-25, 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 7-15) in the finale.

"This weekend was the most consistent and complete performance that our team has had this season," said head coach Don Gromala. "We need to continue to build on this performance next weekend at our home tournament. The MAC is a tough conference and playing well for one weekend isn't going to make our season."

Senior libero Hannah Herc and sophomore opposite Kelly Hutchison were both named to the all-tournament team, which is the first time this season that multiple Flashes have be honored. Hutchison was the catalyst of the Kent State attack on Saturday, totaling 30 kills and hitting .328 to extend her streak of matches with double-digit kills to four. Herc followed a career-best 31 digs Friday night with 18 and 21, respectively, in Saturday's matches.

Kent State (3-6) had one of its best offensive performances of the season in beating Southern Illinois. The Flashes totaled 48 kills and hit .284 as a team in the victory. Freshman outside hitter Bianca Cifaldi posted 12 kills to join Hutchison (14) in double-digits for the match. Both players were efficient in their attack by hitting .333 or better. Senior Aleksandra Nowak helped orchestrate the Kent State offense and recorded 36 assists.

The Flashes jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the opening set and never looked back. The next two sets were much closer and featured 19-all and 22-all ties, but the Flashes found a way to close out the Salukis in both sets.

"Winning those close sets is huge for us, especially against the level of teams we played this weekend, which are similar to the teams in the MAC," added Gromala. "Our girls have to be prepared for and find a way to execute in those moments."

Against Marshall, the Flashes' inconsistency on offense proved to be their downfall. Kent State hit .299 in winning the second and fourth sets, but managed a hitting percentage of just .025 in in the other three sets.

"Marshall did a great job of blocking," Gromala said. "But our girls did a good job of battling again tonight, which they've done all season."

Cifaldi posted a match-high 18 kills in the loss, while Hutchison added 16.

Kent State will try to even its record on the season when it hosts the Golden Flashes Classic next weekend (Sept. 20-21) at the M.A.C. Center.