Kent State University
8-7 (0-2MAC)
Eastern Michigan University
9-6 (1-1MAC)
Volleyball Drops Road Match to Eastern Michigan
9/27/2014 9:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
YPSILANTI, Mich.– Kent State dropped a 3-0 (25-27, 16-25, 17-25) decision to Eastern Michigan in a Mid-American Conference match Saturday night. The loss marks the first time this season the Golden Flashes (8-7, 0-2 MAC) have been swept.
"We played really well offensively to start the match," said head coach Don Gromala. "They hurt us in serve-receive a little to get us out of system and we didn't pass well. Going forward, we need to find ways to be more consistent with our performance."
Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger had 12 kills to lead Kent State, which hit .177 for the match. Senior middle blocker Liz Reikow added eight kills and freshman setter Brittney Jakscht recorded 31 assists.
Defensively, the Flashes were unable to slow down Eastern Michigan's attack. The Eagles hit .270 or better in each set and finished with a .283 attack percentage, the second-high mark by a Kent State opponent this season. The Flashes managed just five blocks in the match and relied on its back row to keep balls off the floor. Kent State outdug EMU, 64-59. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Challen Geraghty and junior defensive specialist/libero Sarah Mills led the way with 17 digs apiece.
"We focused on trying to shut down a few of their hitters and just didn't do it," Gromala added. "In order to win matches, we need to slow down our opponent's best options to score points."
Led by Bittinger and senior outside hitter Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola, Kent State hit .306 in the opening set. The two pins combined for 12 kills and had the Flashes on the brink of taking the set before falling 27-25. After taking its first lead of the match at 19-18, Kent State appeared to be in control after consecutive kills by Aderemi-Ibitola gave it a 24-22 lead. The Flashes could not put it away and the Eagles scored three straight points to take the lead. Another kill by Aderemi-Ibitola kept Kent State alive, but EMU came right back with a kill. A ballhandling was then called on the Flashes to end the set.
"We were right there at the end of the set, but just didn't execute when we needed to," Gromala said.
Kent State was unable to sustain its offensive efficiency and hit just .025 in the second set. The Flashes had 11 kills in the set, but also committed 10 attack errors, which included four EMU blocks. Eastern Michigan pulled away after extending an 11-9 lead to 15-9. Kent State was unable to get within five points the rest of the set.
A great start to the third set saw the Flashes score the first six points. That lead eventually grew to 10-3. However, a pair of four-point runs sandwiched around a kill by senior Lauren Engleman allowed Eastern Michigan to tie the score at 11-11. Kent State regained the lead on a kill by junior Bridget Wilhelm, but that would be short-lived. EMU scored six straight points to seize momentum on its way to a 25-17 victory.
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center seeking its first conference win when it hosts rival Akron on Friday (Oct. 3) and Buffalo on Saturday (Oct. 4). Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
