Kent State University
5-4
University of Wisconsin
6-1
Flashes Battle in Loss at 11th-Ranked Wisconsin
9/11/2015 11:04:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
MADISON, Wis. โ The Kent State volleyball team showed great fight in a 3-0 loss to No. 11 Wisconsin (22-25, 11-25, 21-25), Friday night in the final match of the Badger Classic.
"I am proud of the way this team competed tonight and there are definitely some good things we can take away from this match," said head coachย Don Gromala. "We came out really well in the first two sets and then had a poor stretch to end the second set. I thought we responded well and came out strong in the third set. We were right there with them. It was just a couple ofย point differences here and there that kept us from taking a set from a really good team."
The Golden Flashes (5-4) nearly stunned the crowd of 4,626 at UW Field House by pushing the host Badgers to the brink in the opening set of the night. Kent State stormed back from a 19-13 deficit to get within 23-22, but a kill by Wisconsin's Kelli Bates thwarted the opportunity to tie the set. Lauryn Gillis added a kill on the next point to give the set to the Badgers, 25-22.
Kent Stateย came out strong in the second set and held a 10-9 advantage before Wisconsin showed why it is considered by many to be a national championship contender. The Badgers went on a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the set. Following a kill by senior Kelly Hutchison to bring the Flashes within 18-11, the Badgers scored the next seven points to run away with the set, 25-11.
An ace by sophomore Challen Geraghty jumpstarted the Flashes in set three, as junior Drew Norberg contributed two kills and a solo block in building a 6-2 lead. Wisconsin responded with six straight points to go ahead, 8-6. Sophomore Kelsey Bittinger was able to tie the set 12-12 with a kill, but another 4-0 Badger run helped the hosts pull away en route to a 25-21 set victory.
Bittinger led the Kent State offense with 11 kills and added seven digs. Hutchison added nine kills. Katarina Kojic had a team-high 19 assists and East Troy, Wis. native Brittney Jakscht recorded 9 assists.
As a team, Kent State matched Wisconsin with 10 blocks. Norberg led the way with five blocks and Wilhelm added four. Freshman Darby Connors matched her career-high with three blocks.
Kent State finishes its non-conference slate with three matches next weekend (Sept. 18-19) at the Sacramento State Invitational.
