Kent State University
1-7
Oakland
5-5
Volleyball Defeated by Host Oakland in Weekend Opener
9/15/2017 9:07:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
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ROCHESTER, Mich. โ Kent State lost to host Oakland, 3-0ย (21-25, 17-25, 10-25), in its first match of the Golden Grizzlies Invitational on Friday night.
The Golden Flashes (1-8) started the match with a strong first half to the opening set but were unable to sustain the performance.
"We came out with guns blazing. We executed really well off the bat with how we were passing and serving," said head coach Don Gromala. "I thought we had overall good distribution. Then through two-thirds of the way through the match, we let that slip and didn't respond. Our serve and pass started to struggle a little bit, and when that happens we have to step up in other ways."
Kent State led by as many as six points in set one. Making her first start of the season, junior opposite Amy Kober sparked a six-point run with back-to-back kills before teaming with sophomore middle blocker Myla Kingย on a block that gave the Flashes a 13-8 lead. An ace by junior defensive specialist Sam Jones gave Kent State its largest lead of the night, 15-9. Oakland fought back to within 20-18 before scoring five straight to take the lead and go on to win the set, 25-21.
After falling behind 4-1 to start the second set, Kent State tied the score at 5-5. Oakland began to pull away, however, by scoring four straight later in the set to extend its lead to 13-8. The Flashes got back to within 19-16, but the Grizzlies scored four unanswered and went on to take the set, 25-17.
The third set saw Oakland go on runs of seven and nine points to control from the outset. Kent State managed just five kills in the set and fell, 25-10.
Senior libero Challen Geraghty tallied a match-high 11 digs. Senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger add nine digs. King had a match-high four total blocks.
Bittinger and redshirt sophomore Darby Connors had seven kills each to lead the Flashes. Kober added six kills. ย Freshman Natalie Tagala totaled 21 assists.
Kent State concludes its non-conference schedule Saturday with two more matches at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational. The Flashes battle undefeated Towson (12-0) at 10 a.m. and then take on Fort Wayne (7-6) at 5 p.m.
