Kent State University
Buffalo
Kent State Volleyball Hits the Road for Rivalry Week
10/10/2019 3:24:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State hits the road for a pair of Mid-American Conference matches this weekend. The Golden Flashes will play at Buffalo on Friday at 6 p.m. and then head down the road for a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge contest against rival Akron at 7 p.m. Saturday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 11
6:00 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Buffalo
Saturday, Oct. 12
7:00 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Akron
CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Now in its ninth year, the challenge between the athletics departments at neighboring Kent State and Akron expands to include 16 NCAA varsity sports, as the Zips have added baseball and women's lacrosse programs. A victory in each sport add one point to the challenge standings. The school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for each academic year is presented with an overall series trophy.
This year's competition begins in a big way with two-and-a-half points being on the line over three matchups this weekend. Football (1 point) and volleyball (1/2 point) will compete in Akron on Saturday with women's soccer (1 point) scheduled for Sunday at Dix Stadium.
Kent State won the challenge each of its first four years but has lost by a single point each of the past four years following the temporary discontinuation of Akron's baseball program following the 2014-15 academic year.
Fans can learn more about the rivalry and follow this year's results and standings via WagonWheelChallenge.com.
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State lost its annual 'Dig for the Cure' match against Ohio, 3-0, last Thursday and then took the opening set before falling at Central Michigan, 3-1, on Saturday to start league play 0-4 for the second time in the past three seasons. The 2016 squad, however, followed the slow start by winning both matches during the third week of MAC play.
Sophomore Melissa Kolurbasi led the offense with 20 kills, including a match-high 15 against the Chippewas. Freshman Morgan Copley was right behind with 18 kills and senior Ashley Makruski with 15. Junior Natalie Tagala (37 assists, 21 digs) and redshirt sophomore Alex Haffner (33 assists, 15 digs) shared setting duties.
Defensively, sophomore Erin Gardner tallied a team-leading 35 digs. Freshman Savannah Matthews added 24 digs. Copley led the defense at the net with seven total blocks.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Buffalo (5-11, 1-3 MAC)
The Bulls lost a pair of 3-0 matches on the road last weekend at Miami and Bowling Green. Four of Buffalo's five wins this season have come inside Alumni Arena, where it holds a 4-4 record.
Offensive struggles have resulted in inconsistency, as the Bulls are last in the MAC in kills per set (11.52) and 10th in hitting percentage (.191). Outside hitter Rachel Sanks leads the way with 2.61 kills per set. Outside hitter Polina Prokudina, a Preseason All-MAC East selection, is right behind at 2.53 kills per set. Outside hitter Monika Simkova (2.34 kills per set) averaged 3.27 kills per set over UB's first three conference matches but did not play Saturday at Bowling Green. Setter Scout McLerran registers 7.69 assists per set.
Buffalo is second in the conference in blocks per set (2.06) with middle blocker Lexi Nordmann, a SMU transfer, posting 1.13 blocks per set to rank third in the MAC. The back row of defense has struggled, however, as the Bulls are last in digs per set (12.08) and 11 in opponent hitting percentage (.248). Libero Paige Beck is the team leader in digs per set (3.81).
Akron (11-4, 4-0 MAC)
The Zips have won nine straight and are one of two unbeaten teams during league play. Akron has already matched last season's win total and one more victory will be the most since 2012. That was also the last season the Zips won more than three conference matches.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Serving tough has been a strength of Akron's teams in recent years, and this season's squad leads the MAC at 1.63 aces per set, which ranks 39th in the nation. The Zips are 7-1 record when recording seven or more aces. They also own top-50 national rankings in opponent hitting percentage (.169) and digs per set (16.15)
Setter Emily Weigand is second in the MAC at 10.10 assists per set.
The Zips feature a balanced attack and post 12.50 kills per set as a team. Kayla Gwozdz leads the offense with 3.07 kills per set to rank ninth in the MAC. Ashley Richardson (2.40 kills per set) and Shelby Fulmer (2.16 kills per set) are also solid options. Richardson is third in the conference with a .324 hitting percentage. Setter Emily Weigand averages 7.57 assists per set.
Akron is near the bottom of the conference defensively, ranking 11th in digs per set (14.29) and last in blocks per set (1.49). Libero Taylor Sharrits boasts a team-best average of 4.62 digs per set, while Richardson is the team's top blocker (0.69 blocks per set).
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSย
Kent State leads the all-time series with both Akron and Buffalo with a combined 77-49 mark.
Kent State owns a dominant 31-13 all-time mark against the Bulls but has dropped four straight in the series. Head coach Don Gromala is 8-6 vs. the Bulls.
The Flashes are 45-36 against the Zips, including a 10-2 mark over the past 12 matchups. Kent State has won the past three meetings overall after losing the previous two matchups on the road. Head coach Don Gromala is 10-4 against the Zips.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center next weekend for a pair of matches to end the first half of the conference season. The Golden Flashes host Toledo on Friday, Oct. 18 and Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 19.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and updates about the squad.
