Kent State University
2-410-9; MAC
Miami University (OH)
3-310-8; MAC
Volleyball Drops Three-Setter on the Road to Miami
10/11/2014 7:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio - The Kent State volleyball team was defeated by Miami, 3-0 (17-25, 26-28, 17-25) Saturday at Millett Hall. Playing on the road in the Mid-American Conference has proven to be difficult, as the Golden Flashes (10-9, 2-4 MAC) have not won a conference road match this season.
"We came out and hit pretty well," head coach Don Gromala said. "But we're not making those adjustments in-game offensively that we need to be successful. When we're struggling, we're playing safe a little too much. But when Miami got in tough situations, they were able to do better things than we did."
Senior middle blocker Liz Reikow played at a high level against a Miami team that is strong in the middle. Reikow recorded a match-high seven blocks and had nine kills with just one error on 19 swings for a .421 attack percentage to lead the Golden Flashes on offense. Junior opposite Kelly Hutchison and freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger added seven kills each. Senior setter Jenny Buczek totaled 26 assists and contributed four blocks on defense. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Challen Geraghty tallied 12 digs and Bittinger was also in double-figures with 11 digs.
Kent State had an opportunity to tie the match heading into the intermission after scoring four straight points to take a 24-23 lead in the second set. The rally started with a Miami service error and was followed by a Miami attack error. Reikow and Buczek combined on a block to tie the score and another attack error by the RedHawks allowed the Flashes to serve for set point. Miami flipped the table with two straight points but Buczek kept the Flashes alive with a kill. The teams traded the next two points before a block by Jenny Ingle and Sarah Chaney and kill by Ingle allowed the RedHawks to take the set, 28-26.
After hitting .320 in the opening set, the Kent State offense found it difficult to score points. The Flashes saw their hitting percentage drop in each successive set until it reached .000 in the third. While Miami also saw its hitting percentage drop each set, it started higher (.390) and finished higher (.237) as the RedHawks hit at a .281 clip for the match.
"We switched up our lineup to get a better defensive group on the court, which helped slow down the player we wanted to," Gromala said. "But then we didn't get the same offensive production. Sometimes you take a gamble with changing your lineup. While you might gain an advantage in one area, it puts you at a disadvantage in another."
The Golden Flashes will head back on the road next weekend for matches against Toledo and Ball State.
