Kent State University
8-6 (0-1MAC)
Ohio University
8-4 (1-0MAC)
Volleyball Falls in MAC Opener to Ohio, 3-1
9/25/2014 9:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ATHENS, Ohio – Kent State opened Mid-American Conference play wit a 3-1 (11-25, 25-18, 21-25, 22-25) loss on the road to Ohio Thursday night. Third-year head coach Don Gromala had led the Golden Flashes (8-6, 0-1 MAC) to victory in their conference opener during his first two seasons with the program.
After a dominant opening set by Ohio, Kent State turned the table on its host in the second set. Kent State scored the first three points on kills by senior middle blocker Liz Reikow and freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger, followed by an Ohio attack error and never looked back. The lead reached as much as 10 points on two occasions. Ohio never got closer than five the rest of the way, and an ace by junior defensive specialist/libero Sarah Mills brought the set to a close at 25-18.
Kent State had its chance to seize momentum in the third, but Ohio found a way to come out on top in a set that featured 12 ties and six lead changes. The Flashes went ahead 4-3 and led most of the way before the Bobcats took a 19-18. After Kent State tied it at 20-20 on a kill by junior opposite Kelly Hutchison, Ohio reeled off four straight points. Reikow kept the Flashes alive with a kill, but Ohio responded with a kill of its own to end the set.
Just as it had done in the second set, Kent State raced out to an early lead in the fourth. After leading 8-2, the Flashes allowed the Bobcats back into it as they tied the set at 10-10. Kent State refused to surrender its lead, however, until Ohio finally went ahead at 17-16. A kill by senior outside hitter Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola tied the score, but Ohio scored the next three points to take control of the set, which its went on to win 25-22.
Aderemi-Ibitola led the Kent State offense with a match-high 18 kills. Reikow added an efficient 12 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and four solo blocks. Freshman setter Brittney Jakscht handed out a match-high 43 assists. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Challen Geraghty led a solid defensive effort with 26 digs. Mills (15), Bittinger (12) and senior defensive specialist/libero Kaylee Koller (11) also tallied double-digit digs.
Kent State will look for its first conference win of the season when it travels to Eastern Michigan for a 7 p.m. contest Saturday evening.
