Kent State University
Akron
Volleyball Readies for Rivalry Weekend
10/14/2021 4:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State will make the short drive down the road this weekend for a pair of matches against rival Akron. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. match on Saturday. The winner of each match will earn one half-point in this year's the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
The Golden Flashes (7-11, 2-4 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan, 3-1, on Saturday to end a four-match skid.
Junior Savannah Matthews ranks in the top-10 in the league in both points (3.68) and kills (3.22) per set. Senior Melissa Kolurbasi is averaging a career-best 2.71 kills per set. Redshirt senior Alex Haffner is seventh in the league with an average of 9.71 assists per set and adds 2.23 digs per set. Haffner leads Kent State with 17 service aces and eight double-doubles.
Led by freshman Ainsley Guse and senior Danie Tyson, Kent State ranks third in the conference with 2.28 blocks per set. Guse ranks fifth with a team-high 1.03 blocks per set, while Tyson adds 0.97 blocks per set to rank eighth.
The back row received a boost with the return of senior Erin Gardner to start the conference season. Gardner averaged 5.18 digs per set over the past three weekends, which ranks sixth in the conference over this time. Sophomore Bryn Roberts averages 3.51 digs per set for the season, which ranks 10th.
SERIES HISTORY
The Golden Flashes own a 48-37 advantage in the rivalry. Kent State is 13-2 over the past 15 matchups, including six straight wins after losing the previous two matches on the road. Head coach Don Gromala is 13-5 against the Zips.
UP NEXT
Kent State is scheduled for three matches next week, beginning with a trip to Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 20. The Flashes will then return to action at the M.A.C. Center to host Buffalo on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
