Kent State University
Rider
Kent State Travels to La Salle Invitational
9/6/2018 4:46:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State volleyball returns to action this weekend at the La Salle Invitational.
The Golden Flashes (5-3) will play Rider in the tournament's opening match on Friday, Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m. Kent State will then be in action for the first match of the day on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Flashes return to action against host La Salle on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m. and then conclude the weekend against NJIT at 5 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats will be available for all matches and the Flashes' matchup against La Salle will be broadcast on ESPN+.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, September 7
4:30 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Rider โ Live Statsย ย ย ย ย
Saturday, September 8
10:30 a.m.ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at La Salle โ Live Statsย ย ย Video
5:00 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. NJIT โ Live Statsย ย ย ย ย ย ย
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Rider (2-2)
The Broncs have won two straight after taking down Saint Francis Brooklyn in five sets on the road on Tuesday. Rider, which was picked to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Poll, opened the season this past weekend with a 1-2 record at the Crosstown Tournament at Lafayette.
Two-time All-MAAC First Team honoree right side hitter Hailey Riede (3.67 kills per set) has not played since the opening set of the Broncs' third match. Outside hitter Savannah Logan (3.07 kills per set) has been the offensive leader in Riede's absence.
Middle hitter/right side hitter Perry Williams is the team's top blocker at 1.33 blocks per set and totaled 10 blocks against Saint Francis Brooklyn.
Eighth-year head coach Christopher Feliciano earned his 100th victory at Rider on Tuesday.
La Salle (2-4)
The Explorers have opened the season by going 1-2 over each of the first two weekends and are coming off a 3-1 victory over DePaul. La Salle's other victory came against Morgan State (3-0), which Kent State defeated in four sets on Saturday. This weekend is the home opener for the Explorers, which were picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll.
La Salle features a stingy floor defense that ranks fourth nationally at 20.47 digs per set. The Explorers' 102 digs at Delaware are the third-most in a four-set match this season. Libero Jensen Sharrits is third in the country at 6.29 digs per set.
Setter Kathryn Wood earned a spot on the Chippewa Invitational All-Tournament Team after posting a double-double in all three matches. Wood ranks 15th in the country in assists per set (11.59) and is second on the team in digs per set (3.76).
Outside hitter Devin Corah is the top offensive option, ranking in the top-four in the Atlantic 10 in points per set (4.47), kills per set (3.76) and attacks per set (12.76). Corah notched a triple-double (13 kills, 15 digs, 10 total blocks) at Delaware on Aug. 25. Outside hitter Samantha Graver adds 3.59 kills per set.
NJIT (1-6)
The Highlanders fell to Lehigh (3-0) on Tuesday and only have a 3-1 victory against Delaware State so far this season. NJIT has one common opponent with the Flashes. The Highlanders fell to Youngstown State in the second match of the year, while Kent State defeated the Penguins in the home opener last week. Projected to last in the ASUN Preseason Poll, NJIT has failed to hit above .113 in any of its six losses.
Libero Adrianna Nieto is the ASUN leader in digs per set (5.77). Outside hitter Udo Nwosu averages a team-best 2.44 kills per set. Setter Liz Benson records 8.54 assists per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSย
Kent State has played just one team in the tournament field and owns a 3-0 record against host La Salle. The Flashes won all three previous matchups by a 3-0 score, most recently during the 2001 season in Kent.ย This will be the first time the schools meet on the Explorers' home court.
Kent State will play both Rider and NJIT for the first time.
UP NEXT
Kent State embarks on a nine-match road swing beginning with a trip to Robert Morris on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The Flashes then head to the La Salle Invitational next weekend.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and updates about the squad.
