Kent State University
University of New Hampshire
Aderemi-Ibitola Powers Flashes Past New Hampshire on Way to MVP Honors
9/6/2014 9:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio –Kent State limited its mistakes and managed to score points in critical spot on the way to a four-set victory over New Hampshire (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18) Saturday night at the M.A.C. Center. The Flashes won all three of their weekend matches to capture the title at the Hampton Inn Golden Flashes Classic.
Senior outside hitter Tinuke Aderemi-Ibitola had a monster weekend to earn MVP honors. Aderemi-Ibitola led the Flashes in kills in each match and totaled 50 (4.55 per set) to go with a .421 attack percentage and 12 blocks (1.09 per set). Junior Bridget Wilhelm joined was also named to the all-tournament team. Wilhelm had 30 kills (2.73 per set) and nine blocks over the three matches.
Offense dominated the first set, as the team combined for a .415 attack percentage. Wilhelm was the catalyst for the Flashes, connecting for kills on all six of her swings in the set. Aderemi-Ibitola was nearly as impressive with six kills on nine swings. After Kent State took its largest lead of the set at 20-15, New Hampshire responded with a run out of a timeout. The Wildcats finally caught the Flashes at 23-all, but Aderemi-Ibitola and freshman outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger came through with back-to-back kills to finish the set.
Kent State trailed most of the second set before fighting back to go ahead 17-15. The Flashes then saw New Hampshire score seven straight to take a 21-17 lead. Trailing 23-20, the Flashes fed off the energy of the home crow for another run. A kill by senior setter Jenny Buczek got it started. Another kill from Aderemi-Ibitola was sandwiched between a pair of blocks by senior middle blocker Liz Reikow and junior opposite Kelly Hutchison to give the Flashes the lead. An attack error by the Wildcats sealed the set and gave Kent State a 2-0 lead.
New Hampshire was able to extend the match to a fourth set after the Flashes had their worst hitting performance of the weekend in the third. The offense got back on track in the fourth and the Flashes jumped out to a 20-10 lead. New Hampshire tried to make one last run at it and cut its deficit to 23-18. However, Aderemi-Ibitola put an end that the rally with a big solo block. Bittinger followed with a kill on the next point to send the Flashes to victory.
Kent State hit .268 on the night and had three players record double-figure kills. Aderemi-Ibitola paced the Flashes with 20 kills, while Wilhelm and Bittinger added 13 and 12, respectively. Buczek tallied 43 assists. The Flashes continued to have a strong defensive presence at the net and finished with 13 blocks. Reikow led the way with seven and Aderemi-Ibitola added five.
The Flashes (5-1) are back in action next weekend (Sept. 12-13) with three matches at the Mountaineer Invitational in Morgantown, W. Va
