Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Volleyball Begins Homestand with She Will and Alumnae Recognition Matches
10/19/2018 12:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center to begin the second half of the Mid-American Conference volleyball schedule with a four-match homestand. The Golden Flashes welcome Northern Illinois on Friday at 6 p.m. for the annual 'She Will' match and will then recognize alumnae at Saturday's 7 p.m. match against Western Michigan.
At the halfway point of the conference season, Kent State (9-13, 2-6 MAC) sits just one game out of a tie for seventh-place in the standings. The top-eight teams will qualify for the MAC Volleyball Championships, which will be held Nov. 15-18 in Oxford, Ohio.
In addition to playing six of the final eight conference matches at home, the Flashes will play five opponents who own a league record of .500 or worse.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, October 19
6:00 p.m. Kent State vs. Northern Illinois – Live Stats Video • Golden Flashes Radio
Saturday, October 20
7:00 p.m. Kent State vs. Western Michigan – Live Stats Video
Both matches against will be broadcast on ESPN+ and have live stats available.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Northern Illinois (7-16, 5-3 MAC)
The Huskies have shown much improvement during the conference season following a 2-13 start. Northern Illinois split last weekend's matches with a 3-0 win over Akron and a 3-2 setback to Buffalo.
Ranked last in the MAC in kills per set (11.69), the Huskies rely heavily on outside hitters Meg Wolowicz (4.14 kills per set) and Jori Radtke (3.44 kills per set) in their attack. Both players rank among the top-35 nationally in attempts per set and have combined for 640 of NIU's 994 kills (64.4 percent) this season.
Setter Grace Balensiefer runs the offense and averages of 7.44 assists per set.
Defensively, the Huskies are led by libero Miranda Karlen's 5.07 digs per, which puts her 38th in the country. Middle blocker Chrystal McAlpin averages a team-high 0.94 blocks per set.
Western Michigan (13-9, 3-5 MAC)
The Broncos earned a split last weekend, falling to Buffalo, 3-1, on Friday and defeating Akron, 3-0, on Saturday.
Outside hitter Rachel Bontrager, a Preseason All-MAC West Division selection, is one of the top six-rotation players in the conference. Bontrager is second in the conference in points per set (4.64) and third in kills per set (4.07), while adding 2.67 digs per set. The sophomore was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after posting 5.43 kills per set and a .370 attack percentage over the Broncos' two matches last weekend.
Outside hitter Meredith Phillips (2.39 kills per set) and right side hitter Kate Carey (2.18) provide additional offensive options.
Setter Mary Murphy is second in the conference with 9.96 assists per set. WMU's career assists leader ranks eighth among active Division I players with 4,178 during her four seasons as a Bronco.
Middle blocker Janell Williams ranks sixth in the MAC with a team-high average of 1.21 blocks per set. Libero Kathleen Reilly boasts a team-best average of 4.61 digs per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State owns an 8-29 record all-time against Northern Illinois. The Huskies have won the last two meetings, including a 3-0 sweep last season in DeKalb that featured a 43-41 score in the first set. Head coach Don Gromala is 2-4 vs. NIU.
The Golden Flashes are 15-35 record all-time against Western Michigan, but are 11-12 at home. The Broncos earned a 3-1 victory last season in Kalamazoo to snap a streak of three straight Kent State wins. Head coach Don Gromala is 3-3 vs. the Broncos.
UP NEXT
Kent State continues its homestand at M.A.C. Center when it hosts Ohio for the annual Dig Pink match on Thursday, Oct. 25 and Central Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 27.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
