Kent State University
7-8, 1-2MAC
Ohio University
13-3, 3-0MAC
Flashes Fall in Straight Sets to First-Place Bobcats
10/1/2015 9:49:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โ A valiant effort by Kent State was not enough to end Ohio's 26-match regular season conference winning streak in a 3-0 loss (16-25, 19-25, 18-25) to the first-place Bobcats Thursday evening. The loss marked the first time the Golden Flashes (7-8, 1-2 MAC) have fallen in straight sets at the M.A.C. Center since November 1, 2012.
Kent State played right with Ohio for the first 20 points of each set before falling behind. The first two sets were tied 10-10 when the Bobcats took control with runs of 7-2 and 5-1. Ohio led 11-9 in the third set and then went on a 4-1 run to gain some separation.
The outstanding play of the Flashes' back row defense kept it competitive for the majority of the night. Sophomore Challen Geraghty was all over the floor and finished with a match-high 22 digs. Sophomore Kelsey Bittinger also made several dives to keep balls alive and tallied 13 digs. Senior Kelly Hutchison and freshman Sam Jones added 8 digs and 7 digs, respectively. Ohio entered the night second in the Mid-American Conference in service aces per set (1.55) and only had three in the match.
Unfortunately, the Flashes were unable to knock many balls down at the net, as solo blocks from Bittinger and freshman Amy Kober accounted for the team's only two rejections of the match. As a result, the Bobcats were able to hit better than .300 in each of the first two sets and finished with a .263 team attack percentage.
Ohio, which entered among the top 10 nationally in digs per set and opponent hitting percentage, did not allow Kent State to get much going offensively. The Bobcats held a 64-59 advantage in digs and 9-2 edge in blocks while limiting the Flashes to a .132 hitting percentage.
Bittinger led all players with 14 kills and had a team-best .286 hitting percentage. Hutchison added 9 kills and Kober had a strong performance with 8 kills. Junior Katarina Kojic had a match-high 35 assists.
Kent State will look to get back to .500 in MAC play when it plays its first conference road match at Central Michigan on Saturday at 8 p.m.
