Kent State University
15-12 (7-7MAC)
University of Akron
8-21 (2-12MAC)
Golden Flashes Complete Season Sweep with Four-Set Victory over Rival Zips
11/8/2014 9:14:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio โ Kent State completed a season sweep of rival Akron with a 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18) victory at James A. Rhodes Arena Saturday afternoon. The win clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Athens, Ohio Nov. 21-24.
Kent State (15-12, 7-7 MAC) used a strong blocking performance to cause problems for the Akron offensive throughout the night. The Flashes totaled 12 blocks and held the Zips to a .102 hitting percentage, which would have been much lower if not for a .349 mark in the second set. Six different players recorded a block, led by senior Liz Reikow, who had a match-high five stuffs.
The Flashes complemented its block with solid play in the back row. Kent State outdug Akron, 54-52, and did a terrific job of keeping balls alive. Freshman Challen Geraghty tallied a team-high 14 digs. Freshman Kelsey Bittinger added 13 digs and junior Sarah Mills joined them in double-digits with 11.
Freshman Brittney Jakscht spread the ball around on her way to 43 assists. Senior Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola paced Kent State with 16 kills and 17 points, while Bittinger added 11 kills for her second double-double of the weekend. Junior Bridget Wilhelm and Reikow provided efficient options to take pressure off of the pin hitters. Wilhelm posted 13 kills with just a single error on 22 attempts for a .545 hitting percentage, while Reikow added nine kills.
A pair of Flashes etched their names in the Kent State record during the match. Challen Geraghty broke the freshman digs record and now has 462 for the season andย Liz Reikow broke the senior blocks record and now has 125 for the season.
Kent State will close out the regular season at the M.A.C. Center against Miami and Bowling Green next weekend.
