Kent State University
2-11, 0-2MAC
Buffalo
9-4, 2-0MAC
Flashes Fall to Bulls
9/23/2017 10:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kent State posted a season-best .250 hitting percentage in a 3-0 loss to Buffalo (22-25, 16-25, 23-25) inside Alumni Arena on Saturday.
Despite recording a higher hitting percentage in two of the three sets, the Golden Flashes (2-11, 0-2 MAC) have now dropped both matches on the opening weekend of the Mid-American Conference season for the first time since 2014.
"Offensively, we did some really good things this evening," said head coach Don Gromala. "We got some good production out of our pins and our middles were pretty active. Buffalo is a tough team and I think we did a lot of things to put some pressure on them and make them have some adjustments. We tweaked the lineup a little bit and some players definitely stepped up."
Senior Kelsey Bittinger recorded a season-high .458 hitting percentage with 13 kills and two errors on 24 attempts. Junior Lexi Mantas had nine kills and sophomore Myla King added five kills without any errors on 12 swings. Freshman Natalie Tagala tallied 23 assists.
Kent State's defense limited the protection of UB outside hitter Polina Prokudina, who was second in the MAC in kills per set entering the weekend. The Syracuse transfer had just seven kills to go with seven attack errors on 26 attempts.
Senior Challen Geraghty had a team-high 13 digs and Bittinger added eight digs.
"Our players fought until the final point in both matches, and that is something we loved about this weekend. We are looking forward to working hard to improve from here on out."
Kent State takes the court at the M.A.C. Center for its first conference home matches next weekend. The Flashes will play Bowling Green on Friday, Sept. 29 and then Miami on Saturday, Sept. 30. Both matches are schedule for 7 p.m.
