Kent State University
Northern Illinois University
‘Dig for the Cure’ Match Opens Homestand for Golden Flashes
10/23/2014 4:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team will support the fight against breast cancer with its annual 'Dig for the Cure' match Friday night against Northern Illinois. The match marks the beginning of a four-match homestand for the Golden Flashes, which are scheduled to play six of their final eight regular season matches at the M.A.C. Center.
After playing on the road the past two weekends, Kent State (11-10, 3-5 MAC) returns to campus to host Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. The Flashes will play the MAC West-leading Huskies at 7 p.m. on Friday and return to action against the Broncos at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
This weekend is in the midst of perhaps the most difficult portion of the Flashes' conference schedule. Beginning with last Saturday's match at Ball State and ending with next Thursday's match against Ohio, the Flashes play the top four teams in the MAC standings all in a row. Northern Illinois and Ohio are both 8-0, while Ball State and Western Michigan are both 6-2.
DIG FOR THE CURE
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Golden Flashes are selling pink 'Dig for the Cure' t-shirts to help in the fight against breast cancer. T-shirts cost $10 and all proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen. The team has been selling the t-shirts in the student center throughout the week and will be back for a final time on Friday from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Fans will also have an opportunity to purchase t-shirts at the match Friday night.
For the second year in a row, the Golden Flashes will wear their special pink uniforms for their 'Dig for the Cure' match to show support for breast cancer awareness. Northern Illinois will join Kent State in wearing pink jerseys, which it has done a few times previously this month.
FOLOW THE FLASHES
Fans that are unable to make it out to the M.A.C. Center can follow all of the action online with live stats and video available on KentStateSports.com. Fans can also listen to both matches on the Golden Flashes iHeart Radio channel.
Also, be sure to follow the Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as the Kent State Volleyball Blog.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois (15-7, 8-0 MAC) is one of two remaining MAC team that ware undefeated in conference play. The Huskies have not played as well on the road, however, dropping five sets in three matches compared to just two sets in five home matches against conference foes.
The Huskies are one of the best offensive teams in the MAC, ranking first with 14.13 kills per set and a .268 hitting percentage in conference play. They are an aggressive serving team and rank seventh in the country with 1.77 aces per set.
Senior outside hitter Mackenzie Roddy, a MAC Player of the Year contender, posts a league-best 4.58 kills per set in conference play. Roddy ranks in the top 50 in the country in both points per set (4.67) and kills per set (4.11) on the season. Sophomore middle blocker Jenna Radtke adds 2.81 kills per set and .419 hitting percentage in conference play. Junior setter Alexis Gonzalez ranks third in the MAC with 10.30 assists per set.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan (15-8, 6-2 MAC) has won three straight matches after a 3-1 victory over IPFW in a non-conference match on Tuesday. The Broncos are 3-0 against the MAC East this season with victories over Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo.
The Broncos own the MAC's highest hitting percentage, as they are hitting at a .238 clip on the season. In conference matches, WMU ranks second in kills per set (13.94) and hitting percentage (.262). Redshirt senior outside hitter Ali Gossen, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Ave Stout and freshman middle blocker Sydney LeMay all rank in the top 10 in the MAC in hitting percentage. All three players also average at least 2.20 kills per set.
Senior setter Lexie Pawlik orchestrates Western Michigan's offense. Pawlik leads the MAC and ranks 26th nationally with 11.12 assists per set. Sophomore outside hitter Alysia Baznik posts a team-best 3.06 kills per set. Freshman outside hitter Sierra Hubbard-Neil leads the Broncos with 3.62 digs per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State has not had much success against either of this weekend's opponents historically. Despite a 7-26 record all-time vs. Northern Illinois, however, the Flashes knocked off a talented Huskies squad in four sets during their last visit to the M.A.C. Center in 2012.
The Flashes have lost six in a row to Western Michigan, including a three-set sweep in Kalamazoo last season. Kent State is just 11-35 all-time vs. the Broncos with its last victory coming during the 2007 season.
NEXT UP
Kent State is back in action at the M.A.C. Center for two conference matches next week. The Flashes will host MAC East rival Ohio on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then meet Central Michigan in a 7 p.m. matchup on Saturday.
