Kent State University
Nicholls
Volleyball Travels to North Texas to Open 2018 Season
8/23/2018 7:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball begins the 2018 regular season at the North Texas Invitational on Friday in Denton Texas. The Golden Flashes' opening weekend includes three matches over two days at the North Texas Volleyball Center.
The Flashes take on Grambling State at 11 a.m. ET Friday for the first of two opening-day contests. Kent State plays Nicholls at 5 p.m. ET to conclude the day. On Saturday, the Flashes will challenge host North Texas at 12 p.m. ET for their third match in just over 24 hours to conclude the program's first-ever trip to the "Lone Star State."
Fans can follow live stats for all three Kent State matches via MeanGreenSports.com. Live video streaming will not be available.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, August 24
11:00 a.m. ET Kent State vs. Grambling State – Live Stats
5:00 p.m. ET Kent State vs. Nicholls – Live Stats
Saturday, August 25
12:00 p.m. ET Kent State at North Texas – Live Stats
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Grambling State
The Lady Tigers lost just one starter from last season's team that finished 16-23. Picked to finish sixth in the SWAC Preseason Poll, Grambling State was well-represented with three members named to the preseason all-conference squads.
Right side Kevreion Ward (2017 All-SWAC First Team) led the team with 2.64 kills per set and was a first team honoree. Libero Erineka Mollere (2017 All-SWAC First Team) and right side Tess Reynolds were named to the second team. Mollere ranked second in the SWAC in digs per set (4.45) and eighth nationally in total digs (654) last season. Reynolds posted 1.40 kills per set.
Other key returners include outside hitter Chasity Nicks and setter L'Muriell Thrower. Nicks was right behind Ward at 2.63 kills per set and Thrower led the team in assists (616) and service aces (38).
Nicholls
Coming off a 4-25 season in 2017, the Colonels are projected to finish 12th among 13 teams in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll. Floor defense was the team's strength, averaging 15.33 digs per set. Nicholls ranked among the bottom-35 nationally in kills per set, hitting percentage, assists per set, opponent hitting percentage and blocks per set.
Right side Brie Hill is the top returning attacker and posted 2.09 kills per set in 2017. Setter Jade Piper led Nicholls in assists per set (7.71) and service aces (29). Libero Emily Venable averaged a team-high 3.90 digs per set, while Alexa Perry (4.42 digs per set in 2016) aims for a bounce-back senior campaign after battling injury issues a year ago.
North Texas
The Mean Green enter the season with high expectations following the most successful year in school history. The 2017 season included the school's first regular-season conference title and program records for wins (29), best conference record (13-1) and longest win streak (16). North Texas finished the campaign with a 29-4 record, but lost two of its final three matches with a victory over Oral Roberts in the first round National Invitational Volleyball Championship accounting for the lone tally in the win column during the stretch.
This year's team was picked to finish fourth in the Conference USA Preseason Poll and had two members named to the preseason all-conference team. Setter Karley York (2017 AVCA All-Southwest Region, All-C-USA First Team) was among the national setting leaders last season, ranking sixth in assists per set (11.80) and seventh in total assists (1,441). Outside hitter Barbara Teakell (2017 AVCA All-Southwest Region Honorable Mention, C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year) posted 2.67 kills per set and was the only member of the team with multiple 20-kill matches.
Outside hitter Valerie Valerian was second on the team in both kills per set (2.73) and digs per set (2.67) a year ago. Outside hitter Jill Duffin could provide another solid scoring option in her first year with the program after transferring from Rutgers, where she averaged 2.53 kills over 19 sets in 2017. Libero Henrianna Ibarra leads the floor defense after posting a team-high 3.11 digs per set last season.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State is 1-0 all-time against the tournament field with a 3-1 victory over North Texas in 1994 on a neutral court in Starkville, Mississippi. This will be the first time the Flashes play both Grambling State and Nicholls.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to campus for four matches in front of its home fans inside the M.A.C. Center next week. The Flashes will host Youngstown State for a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday evening and then welcome Morgan State, Niagara and Purdue Fort Wayne for the 2018 Golden Flashes Classic from Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
