Kent State University
4-14, 2-5MAC
Ball State
13-7, 5-2MAC
Volleyball Drops Four-Setter in ‘Dig for the Cure’ Match
10/13/2017 11:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team hosted Ball State for its annual 'Dig for the Cure' match Friday evening at the M.A.C. Center and came out of the wrong end of a 3-1 decision (19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-27).
The Golden Flashes (4-14, 2-5 MAC) made one of the Mid-American Conference's top offenses work for every point and held the Cardinals to a .209 hitting percentage while tallying 90 digs. Kent State, however, hit just .169 on the night.
"It's tough to lose the way we did tonight," said head coach Don Gromala. "I really feel that we controlled the majority of the fourth set and kind of let it slip through our fingers. Ball State played a really good defensive match, as did we. I think we did a pretty good job of slowing down their outside hitter, but just needed a little more offense."
For the third time in the past four matches, five Kent State players posted double-figure digs. Senior Challen Geraghty led the way and passed Ohio's Meredith Ashy and Northern Illinois' Maddie Hughes for sixth on the MAC's career digs list with 2,239. Senior Kelsey Bittinger had 19 kills and junior Lexi Mantas was right behind with 17 digs. Sophomore Claire Tulisiak and freshman Natalie Tagala added 10 digs each.
Bittinger and Mantas both posted 13 kills to lead the offense. Senior Amber Gerdeman added eight kills and recorded a team-high four total blocks. Tagala finished with 33 assists.
Kent State concludes Homecoming Weekend on Saturday when it hosts Toledo at 7 p.m. for Alumnae Night.
