Kent State University
Miami
Volleyball Hosts MAC Leaders for Senior Weekend
11/8/2018 8:52:00โฏAM | Women's Volleyball
The Mid-American Conference volleyball regular season title goes through the M.A.C. Center, as Kent State finishes the regular season this weekend with matches against the league's two top teams. The Golden Flashes host Miami on Friday, Nov, 9 at 6 p.m. and Bowling Green for Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. The RedHawks and Falcons enter the final weekend of the regular season tied atop the conference standings at 11-3.
Kent State (13-15, 6-8 MAC) has played as well as any MAC team during the second half of league, as its 4-2 record over the past six matches is tied for the best in the conference. The Flashes have played their best in front of the home crowd, posting a 7-3 record at the M.A.C. Center.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, November 9
6:00 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Miami โ Live Statsย ย ย ย ย Video
Saturday, November 10
5:00 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Bowling Green โ Live Statsย ย ย ย ย Video
RECOGNIZING 2018 SENIOR CLASS
Following Saturday's match, Kent State will recognize this year's four seniors โDarby Connors, Sam Jones, Amy Kober and Lexi Mantasย โ for all of their contributions to the volleyball program.ย
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Miami (19-7, 11-3 MAC)
The RedHawks dropped out of theย VolleyballMag.com Mid-Major Poll presented by the NIVC after rare back-to-back conference losses last week. Miami was swept at home by Bowling Green on Thursday and then fell on the road to Western Michigan on Saturday on five sets to surrender its two-match lead in the standings. The RedHawks are just 6-4 in true road games this season.
Preseason All-MAC East middle hitter Margaret Payne (2.50 kills per set) is the team leader in points per set (3.09), hitting percentage (.317) and blocks per set (1.06). Middle hitter Corinne Jemison (2.03 kills per set) is hitting .308 in the RedHawks' middle-driven offense.
Outside hitter Gaby Harper is one of the top freshman in the MAC. Harper averages a team-high 2.54 kills per set and adds 2.44 digs per set.
(2.45 kills per set). Outsider hitter Stela Kukoc adds 2.23 kills per set.
The RedHawks run a 6-2 system with Morgan Seaman (5.81 assists per set) splitting time at setter with Louise Comerford (4.53 assists per set) and Jennifer Schulze (4.36 assists per set).
Libero Abigail Huser is the team leader with 5.16 digs per set (5.15) but has appeared in just 58 of Miami's 101 sets.
Bowling Green (17-10, 11-3 MAC)
The Falcons moved into a tie for first-place in the conference standings by earning 3-0 road victories over Miami and Northern Illinois last weekend.
Outstanding floor defense has been a key to Bowling Green being near the top of the conference standings the past three seasons. The Falcons are third in the country with an average of 19.04 digs per set and features the national leader for the third straight year. Libero Kallie Seimet, who was named MAC co-Player of the Year in 2017, is averaging 6.66 digs per set overall.
Although the Falcons rank fourth nationally in attacks per set (39.93), they are just 197th in kills per set (12.31) with a .160 hitting percentage that ranks 271st. Outside hitter Katelyn Meyer (2.87 kills per set) is among the top freshmen in the conference and has increased her offensive production during the MAC season with an average of 3.17 kills per set. Right side hitter Celena Kanagin was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 3.83 kills per set with a .339 hitting percentage over the weekend. after posting 23 kills from 56 attack attempts versus Miami and Northern Illinois.
Preseason All-MAC East middle blocker Katie Kidwell averages 1.15 blocks per set, which is third in the conference. Kidwell adds 1.90 kills per set on the offensive side.
Setter Isabelle Marciniak is sixth in the MAC with an average of 8.93 assists per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSย
Kent State is 23-57 all-time against Bowling Green. After splitting the season series in 2014 and 2015, the Falcons have won the last five meetings. Head coachย Don Gromalaย is 2-11 against the Falcons.
The Golden Flashes are 20-60 all-time against Miami, which includes three consecutive losses. Head coachย Don Gromalaย is 4-10 against the RedHawks with five of the contests going five sets.
UP NEXT
Kent State travels to Oxford, Ohio to begin play in the 2018 MAC Volleyball Championship from November 15-18. The Golden Flashes will seek to claim the first conference tournament crown in program history.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and updates about the squad.
