Kent State University
8-9, 1-2MAC
Akron
8-6, 0-3MAC
Kent State Battles Back to Claim Rivalry Victory, 3-2
9/28/2018 11:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State fell earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season by downing rival Akron in a thriller, 3-2 (27-25, 30-32, 17-25, 25-18, 15-12), on Friday evening at the M.A.C. Center. The victory gives Kent State early bragging rights in the department-wide Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge with a 0.5-0 lead.
The Golden Flashes (8-9, 1-2 MAC) closed the match with an 11-4 run to overcome a four-point deficit when the teams switched sides of the court at the midpoint of the fifth set. Redshirt freshman Alex Haffner provided tough serving to tie the score at 8-8. After video review upheld a call that put Kent State ahead 10-9, freshmen Kathryn Ellison and Melissa Kolurbasi combined for five kills to take the Flashes across the finish line.
"I'm really excited about the resolve of our players and that we had some people step up tonight," head coach Don Gromala stated. "We did a great job of being gritty and fighting back after a tough third set. The crowd was great tonight and played a big part of that. If we were on the road, I'm not sure that it would have been the same outcome."
Kent State also picked up its first five-set victory of the season. The match was tight throughout, featuring 47 ties and 16 lead changes. The Flashes recorded season-high marks for kills (69), assists (66) and digs (103).
Kathryn Ellison tallied 16 kills and 24 digs, a career-high for both categories. Ellison added three aces to lead all players. Senior Amy Kober also had 16 kills to share the team lead.
Melissa Kolurbasi also registered her best match as a Flash with 13 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. The Istanbul, Turkey native only had 12 kills over the previous eight matches entering the night.
"We got a chance to run the 6-2 that we've been waiting to run all year, and our setters did a great job of giving Melissa really good tempos that allowed her to make some choices," said Gromala. "She was moving the ball around and came up with big swings at big moments."
Senior Lexi Mantas provided a boost in her first front row action of the season, notching a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs. Mantas added two solo blocks and an ace that set the Flashes up for set point in the opening set.
"We are excited that Lexi swinging again," Gromala said. "She came out strong in the first two sets. Even though she started to fade offensively as the match went on, she started to contribute in other areas. She passed pretty well and made some much-needed digs down the stretch. That's what you want from a senior leader."
Alex Haffner (42 assists, 12 digs) and sophomore Natalie Tagala (17 assists, 10 digs) also recorded double-doubles for the Flashes.
Freshman Erin Gardner had a career-high 31 digs and steadied the Flashes' serve-receive. Akron is among the national leaders in aces per set, but totaled just four in the match.
Kober and sophomore Ezri Edwards led Kent State with three total blocks. Edwards bolstered the Flashes' blocking after entering at the 21-13 mark in the fourth set.
"We knew we needed some blocking, and Ezri is pretty good at one-on-one blocking in the middle," Gromala remarked. "She came in a did her job to help us get the win."
Kent State will look to even its conference record on Sunday when it hosts Buffalo at 12 p.m. inside of the M.A.C. Center.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
