Kent State University
Ohio
Flashes Host Ohio, Head to Central Michigan for Third MAC Weekend
10/5/2017 11:52:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State is back in action this weekend with a pair of matches and seeks to build off a performance in which it pushed the preseason Mid-American Conference favorite to five sets. The Golden Flashes concludes its three-match homestand against Ohio (8-10, 2-2 MAC) on Thursday and preseason MAC East favorite Miami on Saturday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN3 and are scheduled for 7 p.m.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 5
7 p.m.   Bowling Green at Kent State – Live Stats  •  Video
Saturday, Oct. 7
7 p.m. Kent State at Central Michigan – Live Stats  •  Video
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State (2-13, 0-4 MAC) displayed growth in the second MAC weekend of the season, improving in nearly every statistical category. The Golden Flashes dropped a 3-1 decision (20-25, 25-21, 16-25, 13-25) to Bowling Green on Friday and bounced back to push preseason conference favorite Miami to five sets (19-25, 25-21, 30-32, 25-21, 6-15) on Saturday.
The defense was much-improved and held opponents to a .162 hitting percentage while posting averages of 23.44 digs and 2.00 blocks per set. Kent State posted season-highs with 102 digs and 11 blocks in Friday's contest and then came back Saturday with 109 digs.
Senior libero Challen Geraghty led the floor defense with 57 digs (6.33/set). Geraghty tallied 28 digs against Bowling Green and followed with 29 against Miami for her 52nd and 53rd career matches with at least 20 digs. Senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger (4.11 digs/set) and freshman setter Natalie Tagala (3.33 digs/set) both registered double-doubles in both matches. Junior defensive specialist Sam Jones contributed 27 digs (3.38/set), which included a career-best 21 digs against Miami. Sophomore defensive specialist Claire Tulisiak added 25 digs (2.78/set).
Senior middle blocker Amber Gerdeman, sophomore middle blocker Myla King, junior outside hitter Lexi Mantas and senior opposite Heather Younkin all had at least four blocks against Bowling Green. King led the Flashes with nine total blocks (1.00/set) for the weekend.
Bittinger continued to lead the offense and posted 32 kills (3.56/set). Younkin added 21 kills (2.53), including a season-high 13 against Miami. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Makruski (2.67 kills/set) made a major contribution off the bench on Saturday with 16 kills to double her previous career-high.
Tagala recorded 78 assists (8.67/set) and added six kills.
The Flashes put away nearly 30-percent of their attacks on the weekend, but were blocked 36 times and finished with a .103 hitting percentage.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats (8-10, 2-2 MAC) have split each of the first two conference weekends after defeating Miami, 3-2, and the falling to Bowling Green, 3-1, in Athens a week ago. Ohio won its first three matches, but has been hampered with injuries and gone just 5-10 since opening weekend. Captains Jaime Kosiorek (3.92 kills/set), a Preseason All-MAC East selection, and Katie Nelson (1.45 kills/set) were sidelined during a mid-week match at Dayton on Aug. 29 and have not played since.
A perennial championship contender in the MAC, Ohio does not rank in the top half of the conference in any statistical category. The Bobcats are seventh in kills per set (12.28), opponent hitting percentage (.211), and aces per set (1.26). Annually one of the most aggressive serving teams in the MAC, Ohio has 150 serving errors (2.17/set) this season and have committed 10 or more serving errors in seven matches.
Outside hitter Lizzie Stephens is having a breakout season for the Bobcats. The sophomore leads the conference in aces per set (0.42) and ranks third in the points per set (4.17) and kills per set (3.59). After having just 67 kills last season as a freshman, Stephens ranks in the top-30 nationally in total attacks (802), aces (29), attacks per set (11.62) and points (287.5).
Junior Stephanie Olman led the MAC in assists per set (10.98) in 2016, but has moved to outside hitter due to injuries on the front row. Â Olman is averaging 1.47 kills per set overall but is coming off a career-high 16-kill performance against Bowling Green and is averaging 2.65 kills per set in MAC play.
Freshmen Vera Giacomazzi, Tia Jimerson and Macy Reihing have been huge additions for the Bobcats this season, Giacomazzi starts at setter and ranks fifth in the MAC at 10.10 assists per set. Jimerson is the only player that ranks in the top-five in the conference in points per set (3.78), kills per set (3.16), hitting percentage (.347) and blocks per set (0.82). Reihing (3.62 digs/set) is averaging 4.76 digs per set in conference matches.
SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
After an 8-2 start, the Chippewas (9-9, 1-3 MAC) enter the weekend having lost five of their last six matches. Central Michigan lost both of its matches last weekend in four sets, which included setback to Northern Illinois (2-17). The Chippewas are fourth in the MAC overall in kills per set (12.93) and hitting percentage (.203). In conference matches, their defense has struggled and they are last in opponent hitting percentage (.269), kills by opponents (14.31/set) and digs (13.44).
Outside hitter Jordan Bueter is the focus of the CMU attack. Bueter leads the conference in points per set (4.91) and kills per set (4.27) and is third in aces per set (0.32). Her 701 total attacks rank 36th nationally and accounts for nearly one-third on the team's season total. No other Chippewa has more than 305 total attacks.
Middle blocker Paige Carey (2.17 kill/set) and Taylor Robertson (2.12 kills/set) are also key offensive contributors. Carey leads the team with a .263 hitting percentage and Robertson is the team's top blocker (0.79 blocks/set).
Freshman Grace Butler ranks third in the MAC and 54 nationally at 10.56 assists per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSÂ
Kent State is 25-53 all-time against Ohio and has lost three straight in the series. Head coach Don Gromala is 2-10 against the Bobcats.
The Golden Flashes are 19-30-1 all-time against Central Michigan but have won four straight in the series. Last season, Kent State earned a 3-0 sweep (27-25, 25-18, 25-18) inside of the M.A.C. Center. Head coach Don Gromala is 4-1 against the Chippewas and has been victorious in both of his team's visits to Mount Pleasant.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns home next weekend, hosting a pair of MAC West Division foes at the M.A.C. Center. The Golden Flashes will take on Ball State next Friday (Oct. 13), then welcome Toledo on Saturday (Oct. 14). Both matches are set for 7 p.m. ET starts and will be streamed live on ESPN3. The matchup with the Cardinals will serve as Kent State's 'Dig Pink' match.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
