Kent State University
14-14, 7-8MAC
Ohio University
15-12, 11-4MAC
Flashes Unable to Win Close Sets in Home Finale Loss to Bobcats
11/10/2016 10:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State has shown a knack for winning close sets all season long, but a pair of extended sets went in Ohio's favor as the visiting Bobcats handed the Golden Flashes a 3-1 loss (24-26, 14-25, 25-20, 27-29) in Thursday evening's home finale at the M.A.C. Center. The loss means the Flashes will have to play a first round match next Thursday at the 2016 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Championship in DeKalb, Illinois.
The Flashes (14-14, 7-8 MAC) entered the contest having won 13 of the 19 sets they had played in this season that were decided by two points, including two in last Saturday's 3-2 victory that snapped Miami's school-record 20-match winning streak.
Kent State failed to take advantage of an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the match, as Ohio staved off a set point and scored the final three points of the opening set for a 26-24 victory. Tied 10-10, the Flashes took the lead with a 6-2 run, but the Bobcats answered with a 10-2 run of their own. Ohio led 23-21 when juniors Heather Younkin and Kelsey Bittinger tied it with back-to-back kills. Younkin then paired with junior Amber Gerdeman for a block that gave the Flashes set point. Out of an Ohio timeout, the Bobcats went ahead with two kills and then got a friendly bounce on a serve that skimmed the top of the net for an ace and 26-24 victory.
Ohio never trailed in the second set en route to a 25-14 victory. The Bobcats had 13 kills and no errors on 26 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage in the set. Kent State stepped up its defense following the intermission and held Ohio to a .140 clip and won the third set, 25-20, to extend the match.
The fourth set was extremely competitive with 17 ties and 10 lead changes. Both teams made excellent plays to keep the ball off the floor and extend rallies, as they combined for 67 digs in the frame.
A 5-1 run gave Ohio the largest lead of the set for either team, 9-6. Kent State answered with a 6-2 run to retake the lead. The Flashes led 16-14 when the Bobcats scored four straight. Out of a timeout, Kent State came right back with its own 4-0 run. However, Ohio then went on a 6-2 run to lead 24-22 and have two shots at match point. An Ohio service error and kill by Younkin tied it at 24-24. After the Flashes fought off another match point, the Bobcats sailed an attack over the back line for a 26-25 lead. Ohio got a kill to extend the set, but Younkin delivered another big swing for a kill to give Kent State its second set point. Ohio found its rhythm on offense, however, and followed with three straight kills to close out the match.
Kent State's defense totaled a 98 digs, which is the most in a match that didn't go five sets this season. Junior Challen Geraghty had a team-high 25 digs. Senior Katarina Kojic tallied a career-high 23 digs, including 10 in the final set. Bittinger (16 digs) and senior Maddie Moxley (13 digs) also contributed double-figure digs for the Flashes.
For the second match in a row, Younkin matched her career-high with 16 kills, but added a career-high 6 blocks this time. Sophomore Lexi Mantas also had 16 kills for her seventh consecutive match with double-digit kills. Bittinger added 12 kills. Gerdeman finished with 7 kills and matched her career-high with 6 blocks.
Kent State concludes the regular season at Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN3.
