Kent State University
2-0,2-0MAC
Central Michigan
1-3,1-3MAC
Flashes Sweep Chippewas Behind Balanced Attack
1/29/2021 7:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Kent State made the necessary offensive adjustments after dropping the opening set and went on to defeat Central Michigan, 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-23, 25-22), for the second time in less than 24 hours on Friday afternoon.
After totaling just four blocks during Thursday's 3-0 setback, the host Chippewas' front row made five stuffs to help hold the Golden Flashes (2-0) to a .148 hitting percentage in the opening set, a 26-24 victory. Kent State's hitters avoided the block and hit .330 over the final three sets, in which CMU had only five blocks.
"I'm super proud of our team's performance in both matches," said head coach Don Gromala. "We were in a unique situation with not being able to play last weekend when everybody else in the conference did, so it was exciting to see our players come out and perform at this level. We maintained focus and really came together and executed well."
Redshirt junior Alex Haffner continued her stellar play and collected 58 assists, which is tied for the second-most in a four-setter during the 2020-21 NCAA season, and a career-high four aces. Haffner spread the ball around to her teammate and five Flashes finished with at least nine kills.
A sophomore came through with a career-best offensive performance for the second match in a row. This time it was Savannah Matthews, who led all players with 22 kills. Junior Melissa Kolurbasi totaled 12 kills and sophomore Taylor Heberle was right behind with 11. Juniors Lana Strejcek and Danie Tyson were reliable options in the middle and added 10 kills and nine kills, respectively, while combining to hit at a .390 clip.
"We were really proud with our pins overall," Gromala added. "We've talked about how one aspect of a team is that some people are going to have average nights, so that's when others have to step up. They were keying on our middles a little bit last night, so we set to the pins more. They were pretty strong and Central Michigan had to key on them more tonight, which opened things up for our middles to have a good match."
Junior Erin Gardner had a match-high 23 digs and was perfect in 37 service receptions. Senior Kaeleigh Stang had 14 digs and Matthews added 12 for her first double-double of the season.
"It all starts with our serve-receive and digging," added Gromala regarding the team's offensive success. "This is what gives us those opportunities to get the ball to our hitters in good scoring position."
Trailing 22-16 in the opening set, Lana Strejcek fueled a six-point rally to even the score with a kill and two block assists. The teams traded the next four points before Central Michigan got two straight kills to take the set, 26-24.
Excellent serving by Alex Haffner allowed Kent State to bounce back and run away in the second set. Leading 9-8, Haffner recorded an ace on back-to-back serves to start a 5-1 run that gave the Flashes some separation. It was 19-14 when Haffner came around to serve again, and she aced the Chippewas twice more as part of a five-point service run. Melissa Kolurbasi closed the set, 25-15, with a kill.
An ultracompetitive third set featured 17 ties and 11 lead changes with neither team being able to go ahead by more than two points. Savannah Matthews was able to sneak a cross body swing just inside the line to give Kent State a 25-23 win and 2-1 lead in the match. Matthews and Kolurbasi each had five kills in the set.
The Flashes were able to put their host away in another back-and-forth battle in the fourth. Tied at 22-22, Kolurbasi took a physical swing off the block to regain the lead. CMU then airmailed attacks to give Kent State the next two points and the series sweep.
The Flashes are scheduled to play two matches at Buffalo on February 4-5.
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