Kent State University
Indiana State University
Golden Flashes Classic Opens 2015 Home Volleyball Schedule
9/2/2015 4:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will open its home schedule at the M.A.C. Center this weekend when it hosts the Golden Flashes Classic. Albany, Indiana State and Oakland round out a competitive field that will participate in the six-match event, which features two matches on Friday (Sept. 4) and four matches on Saturday (Sept. 5).
The Golden Flashes (2-2) look to continue their recent dominance at the home tournament. The Flashes have captured the tournament championship each of the past two seasons while going a perfect 6-0 and dropping only four sets.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 4
5 p.m. Kent State vs. Indiana State – Live Stats • Video • Audio
7 p.m. Oakland vs. Albany – Live Stats • Video
Saturday, Sept. 5
11 a.m. Kent State vs. Albany – Live Stats • Video • Audio
1 p.m. Indiana State vs. Oakland – Live Stats • Video
5 p.m. Albany vs. Indiana State – Live Stats • Video
7 p.m. Kent State vs. Oakland – Live Stats • Video • Audio
TICKETS
Fans can watch an entire day of volleyball for the price of just one match, as each ticket allows admission to every match that day. Separate tickets must be purchased for each day. The doors to the M.A.C. Center will open an hour before the first match each day. Adult tickets cost $5 and admission for seniors and youths is just $4.
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State opened the season with a strong performance at the Maryland Invite this past weekend. The Golden Flashes went 2-2 with a 3-0 sweep of Morgan State and 3-1 victory over Duquesne, while dropping a pair of 3-1 decisions to Hofstra and host Maryland. After falling behind 7-4 in the first set of the weekend finale against Maryland, the Flashes rallied for an impressive 25-19 victory to hand the host Terrapins their first set loss of the season.
Senior middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm (2.47 kills per set, .424 hitting percentage) earned all-tournament team recognition for her stellar performance. Wilhelm posted double-digit kills twice and hit better than .400 in three matches. Junior Drew Norberg teamed with Wilhelm to provide the Flashes with strong play from their middles. Norberg notched a team-best 16 blocks while adding 29 kills and a .354 hitting percentage on offense.
Sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger and senior opposite Kelly Hutchison led the offense at the pins. Bittinger totaled a team-high 50 kills (3.33 per set), which included 11 vs. Morgan State on a career-best .455 hitting. Hutchison (3.86 kills per set) paced the Flashes with 20 kills in the weekend finale vs. Maryland.
Junior setter Katarina Kojic (7.20 assists per set) started all four matches and improved as the weekend progressed. Kojic turned in her best performance in the final match, totaling 37 assists, 12 digs, 2 kills and 2 aces vs. Maryland.
The defense held opponents to just .185 hitting and was led by sophomore libero Challen Geraghty (4.40 digs per set). Senior defensive specialist Sarah Mills (2.88 digs per set) and freshman defensive specialist Sam Jones (1.91 digs per set) also played major roles in the back row for the Flashes.
WILHLEM EARNS MAC RECOGNITION
In addition to all-tournament team honors, senior middle blocker Bridget Wilhelm was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week for the opening weekend of the 2015 season on Tuesday (Sept. 1). It is the fourth time that Wilhelm, who led the Golden Flashes with a . 424 hitting percentage, has received the award from the conference. She was second on the team in points (45.5), kills (37), blocks (10) and aces (3).
M.A.C. CENTER MAGIC
Kent State seeks to continue its success at the M.A.C. Center, where it has won nearly 70 percent of its matches (16-7) over the past two seasons. A year ago, the Golden Flashes' nine home wins marked the most since 2002. In 2013, Kent State fed off the energy from the home crowd to defeat No. 18 Ohio for the program's first win against a nationally-ranked team.
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
Kent State's fall sports teams will be holding a school supply drive throughout the 2015 season, and fans are encouraged to bring donations of new and gently used school supplies to home contests. These items will directly support local school children in need. Donation bins will be located inside the entrance of the M.A.C. Center.
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE
After falling to Marshall in its season-opener, Indiana State bounced back with wins over Canisius and Morehead State this past weekend and added a midweek road win at Eastern Illinois to enter the tournament at 3-1. Middle blocker Melody Burdette (2.93 kills per set), and outside hitter Bree Spangler (2.53 kills per set) lead the Sycamore offensive attack and combined for 30 kills in Tuesday's win. Setter Erika Nord (9.94 assists per set) and middle hitter Carly Wishlow (1.88 kills per set) earned all-tournament team honors at the Eagle Challenge on opening weekend.
SCOUTING ALBANY
Picked to finish second in the America East preseason coaches poll, Albany earned a five-set victory over Belmont to salvage a 1-2 record at the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge this past weekend. The Great Danes struggled to find a rhythm offensively, hitting just .099 and averaging 8.85 kills per set. Outside hitter Shannon Hurley (2.58 kills per set) had a team-high 31 kills, while Laini Leindecker was second on the team in kills (29) and digs (48). Libero Nicole Otero (3.77 digs per set) led the defense with 49 digs.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
With six returning starters and the libero position from last year's NCAA Tournament team, Oakland (1-2) was picked to repeat as Horizon League champions. The Golden Grizzlies were able to come back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat George Washington after losing to West Virginia and Michigan to open the season. Right side hitter Jessica Dood (3.23 kills per set) hit a team-best .360 and was joined on the all-tournament team by outside hitter Melissa Deatsch (2.69 kills per set, 2.69 digs per set).
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State is 2-4 all-time against the tournament field. The Flashes own a 1-3 record vs. Indiana State with a 3-1 win in the most recent meeting during the 1996 season. Kent State has swept Albany in the only previous matchup in 2001. This will be the first time the Flashes play Oakland.
UP NEXT
Kent State will head to Madison, Wis. for a pair of matches at the Badger Classic. The Flashes will Georgetown on Sept. 10 and host Wisconsin on Sept. 11.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased for just $35. Call the Kent State Ticket Office at 330-672-2244 to order or for more information visit KentStateSports.com.
