Kent State University
Santa Clara University
Trip to West Coast Wraps Up Non-Conference Volleyball Schedule
9/17/2015 5:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State volleyball brings the non-conference portion of the 2015 season to an end with a trip to the West Coast at the Sacramento State Invitational this weekend. The Golden Flashes will play Santa Clara on Friday (Sept. 18) and then a doubleheader on Saturday (Sept. 19) against host Sacramento State and Nevada.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 18
7:30 p.m. Kent State vs. Santa Clara – Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 19
3:30 p.m. Kent State at Sacramento State– Live Stats • Video
8 p.m. Kent State vs. Nevada– Live Stats
FLASHES AMONG MAC LEADERS
As a team, Kent State ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference in opponent hitting percentage (.194), assists (11.56 per set), kills (12.56 per set), service aces (1.33 per set) and digs (15.19 per set). The Golden Flashes' .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 ranks fourth in the country this season and is second in the Kent State record book.
Hutchison and sophomore Kelsey Bittinger provide the Flashes with the top scoring duo in the MAC. At 4.62 points per set, Hutchison is the leading scorer in the MAC and is second at 4.11 kills per set. Bittinger ranks sixth in the league in both points (3.89 per set) and kills (3.50 per set). Kojic is sixth in aces (0.36 per set) and seventh in assists (8.67 per set) despite sharing setting duties at times.
Sophomore Challen Geraghty is the defensive anchor in the back row and ranks third in the conference with 5.08 digs per set. Senior Bridget Wilhelm is seventh in the MAC at 1.03 blocks per set and also ranks seventh in hitting percentage (.301).
SCOUTING SANTA CLARA
Santa Clara (6-3) saw its three-match winning streak snapped in a 3-0 loss to No. 4 Texas to conclude play at the Texas Classic last weekend. Coming off the 15th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, the Broncos were picked behind only 2014 national runner-up BYU in the West Coast Conference (WCC) preseason poll. Outside hitter Nikki Hess has built off a strong 2014 season in which she earned All-WCC First Team honors and ranks 23rd in the country in kill per set (4.36) and also adds 2.93 digs per set on defense. Setter Kirsten Mead, the 2014 WCC Freshman of the Year, ranks 37th in the country in assists per set (10.9). Libero Danielle Rottman ranks 21st in the country with 5.28 digs per set.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State (11-1) has won 10 consecutive matches after a 3-1 loss to Cal Poly on August 29 to surpass last season's win total (8) in the first month of the year. Included in the winning streak is a 3-1 victory over Central Michigan. Outside hitters Sloan Lovett (3.41 kills per set) and Lauren Kissell (3.35 kills per set) lead the attacks, while setter Kennedy Kurtz leads the Hornets' offense with 10.05 assists per set. Defensive specialist Lexie Skalbeck leads the defense at 4.78 digs per set. The Hornets rank 20th in the nation in aces per set (1.88) and feature five players with 10 or more aces.
SCOUTING NEVADA
Nevada (5-4) brings the momentum of a four-match winning streak into the weekend following a 3-0 performance at its home tournament this past weekend. The Wolf Pack won its final eight sets at the Wolf Pack Classic, which concluded with a sweep of Miami. Outside hitter Madison Foley (3.19 points per set) and right side hitter Madison Morrell (3.12 per set) provide Nevada with a pair of versatile pins. Both players average more than 300 digs per set in addition to having more aces than anybody else on the team. Middle hitter/right side hitter Sam Willoughby is the Wolf Pack's top blocker (1.12 blocks per set) and adds 1.84 kills per set on offense.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State is 0-1 all-time vs. each of this weekend's opponents. The Golden Flashes dropped 3-1 decisions to Santa Clara and Sacramento State during the 1999 season and were defeated by Nevada, 3-2, in 2000.
UP NEXT
Kent State opens the Mid-American Conference schedule at the M.A.C. Center for the first time under fourth-year head coach Don Gromala next weekend when it hosts Miami on Friday (Sept. 25) and Bowling Green on Saturday (Sept. 26).
