Kent State University
University at Buffalo
Golden Flashes Prepare for Pair of MAC Volleyball Road Matches
10/8/2015 10:39:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will try to build upon its first road win of the season at Central Michigan last Saturday as it heads back on the road this weekend for two Mid-American Conference matches. The Golden Flashes (8-8, 2-2 MAC) will play Buffalo at 7 p.m. Friday and then take on rival Akron at 5 p.m. Saturday with a half-point in the Wagon Wheel Challenge on the line.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 9
7 p.m. Kent State at Buffalo โ Live Stats โข Video
Saturday, Oct. 10
5 p.m. Kent State at Akron โ Live Stats โข Video
WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Now in its fifth year, the challenge between the athletics departments at neighboring Kent State and Akron includes 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. The school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year is presented with an overall series trophy.
Kent State has won the challenge every year since its creation for the 2011-12 academic year. The Flashes hold an early 1-0 lead following a win in women's soccer on September 25.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second weekend in a row, Kent State split a pair of conference matches last weekend. The Flashes lost 3-0 (16-25, 19-25, 18-25) to Ohio on Thursday at the M.A.C. Center, but bounced back and were in control throughout the match in a 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21) victory at Central Michigan on Saturday. It was the Flashes' first road victory of the season.
The Flashes were led by the outstanding play of a pair of sophomoresโlibero Challen Geraghty and outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger. Geraghty, who was named MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, made plays all over the floor to keep balls alive and give the Flashes additional scoring opportunities. She posted 6.86 digs per set to help Kent State hold its opponents to a .246 hitting percentage despite only eight total blocks in the two matches. Bittinger was a bright spot of an offense that otherwise struggled, posting 4.57 kills per set and a .377 hitting percentage. She also contributed 3.00 digs per set defensively.
Setter Katarina Kojic recorded 12.29 assists per set). Opposite Kelly Hutchison posted 3.00 kills per set, while outside hitter Amy Kober and middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm added 2.00 kills per set each.
FLASHES AMONG MAC LEADERS
As a team, Kent State ranks leads in the Mid-American Conference with 12.95 kills per set. The Golden Flashes rank second in hitting percentage (.222), third in assists (12.08 per set) and fourth in service aces (1.29 per set). Kent State's .392 hitting percentage in the season-opening sweep of Morgan State is the highest mark by a MAC team this season. The Flashes also hold single-match bests of 78 kills, 76 assists and 106 digs in their matchup with Albany on September 5, which also featured several standout individual performances. Junior Katarina Kojic recorded 71 assists for the Flashes, which is the most by any NCAA Division I player since at least the 2013 season. Senior Kelly Hutchison smashed 32 kills in the match, which is tied for sixth in the country this season and is second in the Kent State record book.
Sophomore Kelsey Bittinger and Hutchison provide the Flashes with the top scoring duo in the MAC. At 4.33 points and 4.03 kills per set, Bittinger ranks third in the MAC in both categories. Hutchison ranks fifth in the league in both points (3.81 per set) and kills (3.40 per set). Kojic is third in assists (9.78 per set) and fourth in aces (0.40 per set).
Sophomore Challen Geraghty is the defensive anchor in the back row and ranks second in the conference with 5.17 digs per set. Senior Bridget Wilhelm is sixth in hitting percentage (.308) and also ranks ninth in the MAC at 0.97 blocks per set.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
After losing its first nine matches to open the season, Buffalo (12-3, 2-0 MAC) has shown great improvement in recent weeks by winning three of the last seven matches. The Bulls, who will be playing at Alumni Arena for just the third time this year, already have conference wins over Toledo and Akron.
Blocking is once again a strength for Buffalo, as it ranks third in the MAC (2.19 blocks per set). While the Bulls are last in the conference overall in kills (11.02 per set) and hitting percentage (.145), they rank second (13.80 kills per set) and fourth (.216 hitting percentage), respectively, in conference matches.
Outside hitter Megan Lipski (3.12 kills per set) is the go-to offensive option for the Bulls. Lipski has been terrific to start conference play and enters the weekend averaging 4.13 kills and 4.53 digs per set through four MAC matches. Outside hitter Valisha Watkins (2.27 kills per set) is second on the team in kills but has just a .031 hitting percentage. Setter Marissa Prinzbach (9.23 assists per set) is second in conference play with 11.20 assists per set.
Middle blocker Cassie Shado ranks fourth in the MAC in blocks per set (1.12) and provides a reliable offensive threat with a .294 hitting percentage and 2.14 kills per set. Defensive specialist/libero Tessa Ooyama (2.94 digs per set) averages 4.07 digs per set in conference matches.
SCOUTING AKRON
Akron (7-10, 1-3 MAC) has lost three straight and seven of its last eight entering the weekend. The Zips are one of the nation's toughest serving teams, ranking seventh with a MAC-leading 1.90 aces per set. Outside hitter Dragana Micic leads the MAC with 0.48 aces per set and middle blocker Kelsey Wilson ranks third (0.40 per set). Defense has been an issue for Akron, which ranks last in the MAC in both blocks per set (1.71) and digs per set (12.65).
Outside hitter Amanda Bedell leads Akron with 3.11 kills per set to go with a .290 hitting percentage. Defensive specialist Breanna Mack leads the defense at 2.68 digs per set and Wilson averages a team-best 0.81 blocks per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State leads the all-time series with both Akron and Buffalo with a combined 67-43 mark.
The Flashes own a dominant 28-9 all-time mark against the Bulls, including three straight victories. A five-set victory last November was the Flashes' first win in Buffalo since 2011.
The Flashes are 39-34 against the Zips and have won four straight in the series. In the first matchup of the season on Oc.t 3, Both of last year's matchups went four sets.
UP NEXT
Kent State will return to the M.A.C. Center next weekend to host Toledo on Friday (October 16) and Ball State (October 17).
