Kent State University
2-19-7; MAC
Miami University (OH)
4-012-4; MAC
Golden Flashes Fall in Battle for First Place in MAC East
9/30/2016 9:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team was unable to slow one of the nation's hottest teams in a 3-0 loss (16-25, 16-25, 14-25) to Miami at Millett Hall Friday night. The RedHawks have now won 11 consecutive matches and 23 straight sets to take sole possession of first place in Mid-American Conference East Division.
"We didn't play well enough to win, obviously," said head coach Don Gromala. "I thought we did some good things defensively, but we have to be better on the offensive side. Miami came out playing their style of game and didn't let anything shake them. We have to put more pressure on them, either by serving a little tougher or taking some bigger swings."
Although the Golden Flashes (9-7, 2-1 MAC) out-dug Miami, 48-46, the RedHawks committed just 8 attack errors and posted 42 kills for a .330 hitting percentage. Juniors Challen Geraghty and Kelsey Bittinger led all players with 15 digs each.
Kent State had an off night attacking the ball and recorded just a .114 hitting percentage while posting season lows in kills (33), total attempts (105), assists (28), aces (1), blocks (3) and points (37). Sophomore Lexi Mantas led the Flashes with nine kills. Mantas picked up where she left off in Saturday's victory against Akron and posted six kills on 10 errorless kills in the opening set, but tallied just three terminations the rest of the night. Bittinger added seven kills. Senior Katarina Kojic had 23 assists and the Flashes' only ace of the night.
The match was more competitive than the set scores indicate, as an extended scoring run by Miami was the primary difference in each set. The RedHawks scored six straight points to turn a 16-14 lead into 22-14 in the first set and then to break a 13-13 tie in the second set. In the third set, it was a 7-0 run that gave Miami a 14-6 lead and control the rest of the way.
"We were right there with them for half the set each time," Gromala said. "We didn't have a hitter step up to put an end to the runs they made. We were trying to find different ways to score and needed somebody to go out there and really hammer a ball. When we find our openings, our attackers need to really go after them."
Kent State will look to bounce back and avenge a disappointing 3-2 defeat a season ago when they visit the Stroh Center to take on Bowling Green at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
