Kent State University
Miami University (OH)
Golden Flashes Host Pair of Divisional Foes to Conclude Regular Season
11/13/2014 5:46:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โย The Kent State volleyball team returns to the M.A.C. Center for the final weekend of the 2014 regular season. The Golden Flashes have won three straight matches and aim to continue building upon that momentum in lieu of next weekend's Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament.
Kent State (15-12, 7-7 MAC) will seek to redemption for a pair of road matches in which they were swept earlier this season as they host Miami and Bowling Green. The Flashes will play the RedHawks on Friday night and then return to the court for the regular season finale against the Falcons on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
After winning both of its matches last weekend, Kent State knows that it's season will not come to an end on Saturday. The Golden Flashes have clinched a spot in the 2014 MAC Volleyball Tournament, which begins on Friday, Nov. 21 at Ohio University's Convocation Center. A new tournament format that gives the top four seeds a first-round bye means that the Flashes could be the higher seed in their opening matchup. Kent State could be seeded as high as 5th, but would need Eastern Michigan to lose both of its matches this weekend. The Flashes are currently tied with Western Michigan for 6th, but would come out on top in a head-to-head tiebreaker due to defeating the Broncos on Oct. 25.
M.A.C. CENTER MAGIC
The support provided from the home crowd has helped Kent State play some of its best volleyball of the season at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes thrive off the energy from its fans, which has resulted in an 8-2 record at home.ย Success at home is not just limited to this year. The Flashes went 7-4 at the M.A.C. Center during the 2013 season, which included a memorable 3-1 win over No. 18 Ohio on October 10 for the program's first win against a nationally-ranked team.
RECOGNIZING 2014 SENIOR CLASS
Following Saturday's match against Bowling Green, Kent State will recognize this year's five seniorsโTinuke Aderemi-Ibitola, Jenny Buczek, Lauren Engleman, Kaylee Koller and Liz Reikowโwho will be playing for the final time in front of the home fans at the M.A.C. Center.
This year's senior class has played a significant role in laying a foundation for the future success of Kent State's volleyball program. As a group, they have amassed 2,174 kills, 1,437 digs, 812 assists and 648 blocks over the past four seasons.
Individually, Reikow will finish her career as one of the most decorated blockers in program history and ranks in the top five all-time in total blocks, blocks per set, solo blocks and block assists. During Saturday's match at Akron, Reikow set a new senior season blocks record with her 125th stuff of the year.
Aderemi-Ibitola, who will finish her collegiate career at the incredibly young age of 19, has also etched her name in the Kent State record book. Her 2.61 kills-per-set career average is good for 10th all-time.ย
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.
Be sure to follow the Flashes onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebook. Also check out theย Kent State Volleyball Blog for exclusive team content and video blogs featuring head coach Don Gromala.
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State put its road struggles behind it to earn a pair of victories last weekend and clinch a spot in the MAC Tournament. The Golden Flashes staved off a comeback attempt to defeat Buffalo, 3-2, on Friday and then topped rival Akron, 3-1, on Saturday to complete the season sweep of both teams. The win over the Zips also gave Kent State a 3.0-1.0 lead in this year's PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger continues to get improve late in the season, posting a double-double of both of Kent State's matches and finishing with 36 kills and 26 digs. Bittinger was outstanding against Buffalo on Friday, posting a career-high 25 kills to lead the Flashes to victory. Senior outside hitter Tinukeย Aderemi-Ibitolaย provided a second strong option at the pin with 30 kills in the two matches. Aderemi-Ibitola led all players with 16 kills against Akron on Saturday.
Freshman setter Brittney Jakscht made smart decisions throughout the weekend and finished with 94 assists (10.44 per set). Jakscht had 51 assists and 12 digs against Buffalo on Friday for her fourth double-double of the season.
Kent State's blocking game is beginning to return to its early-season form, as the Flashes posted 2.56 blocks per set on the weekend. Senior middle blocker Liz Reikow led the way with 11 blocks, while junior middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm added seven blocks. Both players contributed 21 kills on offense. Freshman Heather Younkin made her first career start on Friday and aided the blocking game with three block assists. Younkin added five kills against the Bulls.
The back row was led by freshman defensive specialist/libero Challen Geraghty, who tallied 45 digs. After setting a new career-high with 31 digs at Buffalo on Friday, Geraghty broke the school's record for digs by a freshman in Saturday's match at Akron and sits at 462 on the season.
SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami (18-8, 11-3 MAC) brings a nine-match winning streak into the final weekend of the regular season after defeating Bowling Green and Western Michigan Broncos. The RedHawks last lost came to Ohio on October 11 and swept Kent State the next night to start their current streak. They have lost just five sets in the last nine matches, which includes five 3-0 sweeps.
The RedHawks rank among the conference leaders in a handful of statistical categories, most notably digs per set and kills per set. They are 2nd in the MAC in both categories and rank 30th in the nation in digs per set (16.72) and 46th in the nation in kills per set (13.75).
Miami possesses the MAC's most efficient middle attacks, which features redshirt junior Jenny Ingle and sophomore Paige Hill. Ingle ranks 22nd nationally with a MAC-best .398 hitting percentage and adds 2.31 kills per set. Hill ranks 3rd in the MAC with a .349 hitting percentage and is second on the team with 2.35 kills per set.
Freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek leads the offense with 2.58 kills per set. Senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley is one of the conference's most dynamic players and presents a unique challenge for opposing defenses. Riley averages 2.30 kills, 5.77 assists, and 2.96 digs per set while hitting at a .288 clip.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green (7-19, 4-10 MAC) is fighting for a postseason berth after losing both of its matches last weekend, at Miami and Northern Illinois. The Falcons are just 1-8 on the road this season.
The Falcons rank near the bottom of the MAC in most statistical categories this season. A struggling offensive squad, Bowling Green is winless (0-16) when hitting below .200 in a match, but has managed a 7-3 record when hitting .200 or better.
Sophomore defensive specialist Madeline Garda leads the MAC in digs per set (5.73) in conference matches. Overall, Garda averages 4.73 digs per set, which ranks 61st nationally. Garda was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after totaling 61 digs in the Falcons' two four-set losses over the weekend. Senior middle Kelsey Bates is third in the conference in blocks per set (1.13) and ranks 84th nationally. Offensively, Bowling Green is led by freshman outside hitter Nicole Slimko, who ranks 4th in the MAC in kills per set (3.32).
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State has not fared well historically against either of this weekend's opponents. The Flashes are 17-55 all-time against Miami and seek a split of the season series for the fourth straight year after losing 3-0 in the first matchup of the season.
The Flashes are 21-51 all-time against Bowling Green, including six seven losses. The last victory over the Falcons was a 3-0 sweep on November 12, 2010.
NEXT UP
Kent State travels to Athens, Ohio to begin play in the 2014 MAC Volleyball Tournament next Friday (Nov. 21). The Golden Flashes will seek to claim the first conference crown in program history.
