Kent State University
University at Buffalo
Volleyball Set for Final Road Matches of Regular Season
11/6/2014 10:29:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โย Looking to secure a spot in the 2014 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament, Kent State looks to take momentum gained from a thrilling five-set victory over Central Michigan last Saturday along for its final road trip of the regular season. The Golden Flashes will play at Buffalo on Friday with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. before heading back to Northeast Ohio to prepare for a 5 p.m. matchup at rival Akron on Saturday.
Kent State (13-12, 5-7 MAC) surpassed its win total from a season ago and moved into sole possession of seventh-place in the overall conference standings with its victory over the Chippewas last weekend. Now the Flashes will set their sights on securing a return trip to the MAC Tournament and building momentum heading into the postseason. By defeating Central Michigan (and owning a potential head-to-head tiebreaker as a result), the team controls its own destiny as it plays two of the final four games of the regular season against teams that sit just one game back in the standings.
One of those teams is Friday's opponent, Buffalo. A win would give Kent State a two-game lead over the Bulls (14-12, 4-8 MAC) with just three matches remaining and the advantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker with a sweep of the season series.
In addition to bragging rights, one-half point in theย PNC Wagon Wheel Challengeย will be up for grabs when the Flashes make the short trip to rival Akron on Saturday. The Zips (8-19, 2-10 MAC) are not mathematically eliminated from the MAC Tournament., but are currently three games back of the Flashes and two games out of eighth-place.
PNC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Now in its fourth year, theย PNC Wagon Wheel Challengeย is a year-long competition between Kent State and Akron's rival athletics departments. Now in its fourth year, the challenge expands upon on a time-honored competition for the historic wooden Wagon Wheel Trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game.ย
While the winner of the football game still receives the Wagon Wheel Trophy, the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge includes the 15 NCAA varsity sports sponsored by both schools. Head-to-head victories in each sport are worth one point to the challenge standings with the school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year being presented with an overall series trophy.
Kent State has won the challenge every year since its creation for the 2011-12 academic year and holds an early 2.5-1.0 lead in this year's standings. The Flashes' women's soccer team kicked off this year's competition with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Zips on Sept. 28. Volleyball earned a half-point with a 3-1 victory on Oct. 3. Akron claimed its first point last weekend in men's cross country, but Kent State got the point back in women's cross country.
FOLOW THE FLASHES
Fans can follow all of this week's action online, as both Toledo and Ball State will be providing live stats of the matches. Video streaming of each match is also available, but viewing requires the purchase of an all-access pass through each school's website. Ourย scheduleย page contains links to all of these pages.
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.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo (14-12, 4-8 MAC) suffered road setbacks against Miami and Bowling Green last weekend and has dropped six of its last seven matches overall. After a 12-4 start to the season, the Bulls have won just two of their last 10 matches.
The Bulls are strong at the net and ranks in the top five in the conference in hitting percentage (.211/5th), opponent hitting percentage (.186/3rd), kills per set (13.24/5th) and blocks per set (2.22/4th).
Outside hitter Tahleia Bishop provides Buffalo with one of the MAC's most dynamic players. The 6'0" junior ranks 22nd in the nation in kills per set (4.33) and 35th in points per set (4.76). Bishop plays all six rotations and contributes 2.77 digs per set and 0.43 blocks per set on defense. Middle blocker Akeila Lain ranks fifth in the conference with 1.02 blocks per set and add 2.13 kills per set, while fellow middle blocker Amber Hatchett averages 2.31 kills and 0.81 blocks per set. Setter Marissa Prinzbach averages 10.16 assists per set, which ranks fifth in the MAC, but has had a significant drop in production since returning from being sidelined for four matches three weeks ago.
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron (8-19, 2-10 MAC) enters Friday's contest against first-place Ohio have won just a single set during its current six-match losing streak. Playing at James A. Rhodes Arena has brought the Zips success, as they are 6-5 at home this season.
Scoring points off serves has been an area the Zips have found success this season. They are averaging 1.42 service aces per set, which is good for third in the MAC and 64th nationally. Middle blocker Kelsey Wilson's 0.47 service aces per set rank 13th in the country. Akron ranks in the bottom two in the conference in every other statistical category.
Akron's offense is led by outside hitter Julia Smagacz, who averages 2.20 kills per set. The Zips are strong in the middle with senior Mary Delich and Wilson. Delich leads the team with 2.60 points per set and 0.78 blocks per set, while adding 2.07 kills per set. Wilson scores 2.56 points per set with averages of 1.63 kills and 0.71 blocks per set. Karley Kusan handles the primary setting duties and averages 7.32 assists per set. Defensive specialist Callie Mack leads the defense with 3.41 digs per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State leads the all-time series with both Akron and Buffalo. The Flashes are 38-34 against the Zips and have won three straight in the series. In the first matchup of the season on Oc.t 3, Kent State won in four sets (25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22) and looks to sweep the season series for the second consecutive year.
The Flashes own a 27-9 all-time mark against the Bulls. Kent State swept Buffalo (25-12, 25-20, 25-15) in the first matchup of the year on Oct. 4, but has not won in Buffalo since 2011.
NEXT UP
Kent State concludes its regular back at the M.A.C. Center next weekend when it hosts Miami and Bowling Green. The Flashes will recognize this year's five seniorsโTinuke Aderemi-Ibitola, Jenny Buczek, Lauren Engleman, Kaylee Koller and Liz Reikowโfollowing Saturday's match against Bowling Green.ย
