Kent State University
11-11, 3-6MAC
Northern Illinois University
16-7, 9-0MAC
GOLDENFLASHESTV: Flashes Unable to Knock Off First-Place Huskies Despite Aderemi-Ibitola’s Career Night
10/24/2014 10:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Senior outside hitter Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola fueled Kent State's offense with a career-high 24 kills, but it was not enough to prevent a 3-1 loss (20-25, 16-25, 31-29, 19-25) to first-place Northern Illinois (16-7, 9-0) on Friday night. The defeat is the first of the season in the M.A.C. Center for the Golden Flashes, who fell to 11-11 overall and 3-6 in the Mid-American Conference.
The 24 kills by Aderemi-Ibitola are the most by a Kent Stat player since Maigan Larsen posted 27 kills against Eastern Michigan on November 5, 2011. The senior from Ellicott City, Md. was very efficient and finished with only five errors on 53 swings for a .358 hitting percentage.
Northern Illinois put together two outstanding hitting performances to grab a 2-0 lead at the intermission. The Huskies totaled 35 kills and a .418 hitting percentage in the opening two sets. Kent State was able to slow their attack over the final two sets, and the Huskies saw their hitting percentage drop to .307 for the match.
After watching Northern Illinois pull away late in the opening set, which featured 14 ties and six lead changes, Kent State never led in the second set. This put the Flashes in a position they had not encountered this season by facing a 2-0 deficit at home.
The Flashes were determined not to be swept on their home floor and found a way to come out on top of an entertaining back-and-forth third set. Kent State led 5-1 early and stayed ahead until the Huskies took an 11-10 lead. The Flashes regained the lead at 22-21 and served for set point following a kill from junior middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm. NIU turned the tables by scoring two straight for a 26-25 lead. The Flashes came right back with kills by senior middle blocker Liz Reikow and junior opposite Kelly Hutchison. This lead would not get away as Aderemi-Ibitola posted consecutive kills, her 11th and 12th of the set, for a 31-29 Kent State victory.
While Aderemi-Ibitola seemed to find open spots on the floor with ease throughout the match, the rest of the Flashes struggled. Reikow and Wilhelm were the next-closest players with eight kills each, and Wilhelm was the only other Flash with multiple kills that hit better than .200. Freshman setter Brittney Jakscht had a team-high 36 assists.
Freshman libero Challen Geraghty tallied 19 digs, her 10th consecutive match in double-figures, to lead Kent State's defense. Junior defensive specialist Sarah Mills had 11 digs and Aderemi-Ibitola added a season-high six digs.
Kent State will try to earn a split for the weekend when it hosts Western Michigan at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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