Kent State University
Robert Morris
Trip to Robert Morris Begins Road Swing
9/3/2018 5:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State will play its final mid-week match of the non-conference season on Tuesday evening when it travels to Robert Morris. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from inside the North Athletic Complex Student Rec Center.
The Flashes bounced back from a straight-sets loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday to defeat Morgan State (3-1) and Niagara (3-0) on Saturday for a runner-up finish at the Golden Flashes Classic. Senior Darby Connors and freshman Danie Tyson were named to the all-tournament team. Connors was Kent State's top attacker on the day, finishing with 24 kills (3.43 per set) and a .316 hitting percentage. Tyson added 21 kills (3.00 per set) while hitting .500 and added six total blocks.
Kent State's 5-2 record is the best start to a season since 2014. The Flashes have displayed a resurgent net presence with average of 2.480 blocks per set that ranks 58th nationally and is the team's most since 2009. Freshman Danie Tyson (1.04 per set) and junior Myla King (1.00 per set) are both among the top-10 blockers in the Mid-American Conference.
SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials (0-6) seek their first victory of the season, but are coming off a strong performance in which they took undefeated Virginia Tech to four sets in the final match at the Hokie Invitational. Despite only winning four of 22 sets so far, Robert Morris has been far more competitive than their record suggests. One-third of the Colonials' set losses have been by three points or fewer.
Outside hitter Alyson Londot posts a team-high 2.40 kills per set. Outside hitter Taylor Lord is close behind at 2.31 kills per set, and middle blocker Maria Alfano (2.00) gives RMU three players averaging at least 2.00 kills per set. Libero Allie Yurkovich leads the team defensively with 3.19 digs per set.
Led by ninth-year head coach Dale Starr, RMU was picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State holds a commanding 14-2 lead in the all-time series against Robert Morris. The Golden Flashes have won the past four meetings. The Colonials' last victory was a five-setter in Kent on September 9, 2011. Kent State is 3-0 in matches played at RMU but has not visited Moon Township since 1991.
The last time these teams played, the Flashes earned a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) sweep at the M.A.C. Center in 2016. All four of Kent State's current seniors saw action in that match. Offensively, Darby Connors posted eight kills, Lexi Mantas had seven kills and Amy Kober added one kill. Sam Jones had the top defensive performance among the group with eight digs, while Mantas tallied seven. Allie Yurkovich (18 digs) and Liz Campbell (11 assists) were the only current Colonials that saw action.
NEXT UP
Kent State will travel close to senior Sam Jones' hometown of Horsham, Pennsylvania to compete at the La Salle Invitational this weekend. The Flashes will play Rider on Friday (Sept. 7) and then La Salle and NJIT on Saturday (Sept. 8).
