Gardner and Kolurbasi Named to MAC Volleyball All-Freshman Team
11/14/2018 4:00:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
CLEVELAND, Ohio โ Kent State libero Erin Gardner and opposite Melissa Kolurbasi were named to the six-member Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team, as the conference office announced its volleyball postseason honors on Wednesday (Nov. 14).
The Golden Flashes were one of two teams with two players selected to the team, which recognizes the top first-year collegiate players in the conference. This is the first time Kent State has placed a freshman on the team since Challen Geraghty in 2014 and just the second time in program history that two freshmen have been honored. Varsity "K" Hall of Famer Danielle Holt and Anne Butts earned the award in 2002.
Gardner, who enrolled at Kent State in January after graduating early from Avon High School, was among the best freshmen in the country at the libero position. She has set Kent State freshman records with 562 digs, which ranks 21st nationally and fifth in program history, and an average of 5.06 digs per set. Gardner had double-digit digs in all 16 conference matches and averaged 5.56 digs per set against MAC opponents. Her career-high 34 digs Saturday against regular season co-champion Bowling Green ties for the 10th-most in a match by a Flash all-time
Although she didn't step foot in the United States of America until the day before practice began, Kolurbasi made an immediate impact for Kent State. The Istanbul, Turkey native was a go-to attacker during the conference season, averaging a team-best 2.24 kills per set. Kolurbasi was second on the team in points per set (2.45) and hitting percentage (.242) against MAC opponents. She posted seven matches with double-figure kills.
Kent State is back in action Thursday in Oxford, Ohio for the 2018 MAC Volleyball Championship. The eighth-seeded Golden Flashes will begin the quest for their first conference title against Eastern Michigan at 4:30 p.m.
2018 MAC Volleyball All-Freshman Teamย
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan
Erin Gardner, Kent State
Melissa Kolurbasi, Kent State
Gaby Harper, Miami
Sophie Riemersma, Miami
