Kent State University
8-10, 1-3MAC
Buffalo
10-6, 2-2MAC
Offense Shows Improvement in Five-Set Defeat
9/30/2018 7:21:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
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KENT, Ohio โ Kent State was unable to overcome slow start to the fifth set for the second match in a row a lost to Buffalo, 3-2 (27-25, 20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 12-15), in a Mid-American Conference match on Sunday at the M.A.C. Center.
Just as in Friday's match against rival Akron, the Golden Flashes (8-10, 1-3 MAC) found themselves down 8-4 at the midpoint of the fifth set. Instead of scoring four straight to tie the score as the start of an 11-4 run, Kent State only scored the next two points and fell behind by as many as five before rallying late to get within 13-12.
"There were some critical points late in the last two sets that we have to control and take care of better on our end," head coach Don Gromala stated. "Our pins probably had one of their best matches of the season as a group. But we have to get production from both our pins and middles. It can't be all one or the other."
Kent State also picked had four players post double-figure kills for the second match in a row. Senior Lexi Mantas had a team-high 17 kills, while junior Ashley Makruski provided a boost off the bench with 14 kills. Freshmen Melissa Kolurbasi and Danie Tyson each added 12 kills. Redshirt freshman Alex Haffner had a career-high 58 assists to go with eight digs and three kills.
The Flashes recorded 10 blocks for the first time since Sept. 4, including a season-high nine solo blocks. Mantas matched her career-high with four total blocks to lead the way. Sophomore Ezri Edwards, Makruski and Tyson had two solo blocks apiece.
Freshman Erin Gardner led the floor defense with 18 digs. Senior Sam Jones was right behind with 17 digs, and sophomore Kaeleigh Stang tallied a career-high 16 digs.
Kent State continues conference play at Bowling Green and Miami next weekend to begin a four-match road stretch.
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