Kent State University
University at Buffalo
GOLDENFLASHES TV: Volleyball Earns Impressive 3-0 Victory Over Buffalo to Remain Unbeaten at M.A.C. Center
10/4/2014 9:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio –The Kent State volleyball team took care of visiting Buffalo for a 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-15) victory Friday night at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes (10-7, 2-2 MAC) improved to 6-0 in home matches with the victory.
A terrific all-around defensive performance highlighted the night for Kent State, which held Buffalo to a .050 attack percentage. The Flashes had five blocks in each of the first two sets and finished with 11 for the match. Senior middle blocker Liz Reikow led the way with seven blocks and senior setter Jenny Buczek was right behind her with a career-high six blocks. Defensive specialist/libero Challen Geraghty continued her terrific freshman season with a match-high 12 digs to help Kent State out-dig Buffalo, 40-38. Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger tallied eight digs and junior defensive specialist/libero Sarah Mills added seven digs.
The night started with the teams splitting the first 16 points of the opening set. Kent State asserted its dominance at that point and scored 17 of the next 21 points to run away with the set, 25-12. Both teams had nine kills in the set, but Buffalo gave away too many points with nine attack errors, three receiving errors, three ballhandling errors and a red card.
The second set was the most competitive of the match, with Buffalo leading most of the way. Kent State used a 5-0 run to take an 18-14 lead. The Bulls scored four straight to tie the set, but the Flashes came right back with four points of their own to regain momentum and take a 22-18 lead. A kill by junior middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm finished off the set, 25-20, and gave Kent State a 2-0 lead at the intermission.
Trailing 3-1 early in the third set, Bittinger delivered a kill for the Flashes. Buffalo followed with a ballhandling error and three straight attack errors to give Kent State a 6-3 lead. While the Bulls scored the next two points to cut the deficit to one, they never got within four the rest of the way. Outstanding serving by Geraghty helped the Flashes extend a 17-13 lead out to 23-13. A kill by senior outside hitter Lauren Engleman a few plays later wrapped up the victory.
Engleman had 10 kills to lead the offense for the second night in a row. Wilhelm had nine kills and Bittinger added eight for a balanced Kent State attack. Buczek handed out 30 assists and also had three kills.
Kent State is back on the road for the next two weekends, beginning with matches at Mid-American Conference East Division schools Bowling Green and Miami on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
