Kent State University
Buffalo
Kent State Sweeps Buffalo for First MAC Victory
10/11/2019 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kent State captured its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season Friday evening inside of Alumni Arena, defeating host Buffalo, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-23).
The Golden Flashes (8-9, 1-4 MAC) posted 48 kills and a .336 hitting percentage, the highest against a conference opponent in just over two years, in one of their top offensive performances of the season. Sophomore Melissa Kolurbasi led the way with kills on 18 errorless attempts for a career-high .611 hitting percentage. Senior Myla King had eight kills while hitting at a .500 clip, and freshman Morgan Copley also finished the night with eight kills. In addition to running an efficient offense and handing out 38 assists, redshirt sophomore Alex Haffner had a career-high seven kills.
A slow start saw Kent State trailing 5-2 when Melissa Kolurbasi delivered back-to-back kills to help the Flashes settle in. Morgan Copley and Myla King accounted for every point in a 5-1 run that put Kent State ahead, 10-7. Back-to-back kills from King made it 21-15, matching the largest lead of the opening set. Buffalo made a run to get within 21-20, but a strong swing by Copley led to an overpass that was put away by Savannah Matthews. Kent State took the next three points as well to win the set, 25-20.
The Flashes played from behind by four early in the second set, but a strong serving run by Erin Gardner allowed them to go ahead 13-11. Buffalo countered with its own run to retake the lead, 17-14. The Bulls' lead was trimmed to two, 19-17, a few points later when the Flashes scored four straight to lead by two. The lead was 22-21 following two kills and a service ace by UB. Despite having difficulty finishing close sets during the first two weekends of conference play, Kent State once again found a way to come out on top by scoring the next three points. It started with a quick middle set to King for a kill, followed by an ace from Gardner that prompted a UB timeout. Another strong serve by Gardner allow the Flashes to receive a free-ball and feed Danie Tyson in system for a kill and 25-21 victory. Kent State finished the set with a .452 hitting percentage.
The match appeared to be in-hand with Kent State leading 18-11 in the third set. However, the Bulls continued fighting and used a pair of three-point runs to slowly chip away at the deficit. The Flashes' red-hot offense, which had already totaled 15 kills in the set, went without a kill for 11 straight points as Buffalo took a 23-22 lead. Alex Haffner was able to win a huge joust at the net on the ensuing point to even the score. An overpass on the next point allowed Tyson to record a kill and put the Flashes in position to end the match. Another strong serve by Ashley Makruski got the Bulls out of system, and Tyson was able to blast through the block for the 25-23 win.
Sophomore Erin Gardner led the defense with 14 digs. Junior Kaeleigh Stang added 10 digs and freshman Savannah Matthews was right behind with nine.
Kent State will look to make it two in a row with a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge match at rival Akron on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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