Kent State University
Ohio
Flashes Travel to Ohio for Wednesday #MACtion
10/19/2021 12:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will begin a three-match week with a trip to Athens to battle Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (9-11, 4-4 MAC) and Bobcats are currently tied for second in the Mid-American Conference East Division standings and have both won their past three matches. Kent State earned a weekend sweep of Akron to extend its rivalry winning streak to five after defeating Eastern Michigan in the last home contest. Starting at middle blocker for the first time since early in the 2019 season, redshirt junior Jacqlyn Caspers had a monster weekend against the Zips with 30 kills (3.75 per set) and a .472 hitting percentage.
The offensive success of the Flashes' middle blockers has keyed the three-match win streak, as Caspers, senior Danie Tyson, freshman Ainsley Guse and graduate student Hannah Johnson have combined for 5.42 kills per set and a .393 hitting percentage. Redshirt senior Alex Haffner is averaging 12.25 assists per set during this stretch and recorded a career-high 63 assists on Saturday.
On the season, junior Savannah Matthews ranks in the top-10 in the MAC in both points (3.66) and kills (3.21) per set. Senior Melissa Kolurbasi is averaging a career-best 2.58 kills per set. Alex Haffner is fifth in the league with an average of 9.94 assists per set and adds 2.19 digs per set. Haffner leads Kent State with 18 service aces and eight double-doubles.
Led by Ainsley Guse and Danie Tyson, Kent State ranks third in the conference with 2.30 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 has averaged 5.07 digs per set over the past four weekends, which ranks sixth in the conference over this time. Sophomore Bryn Roberts wore the libero jersey for most of the non-league slate and averages 3.45 digs per set for the season.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats (4-12, 4-4 MAC) are playing their best ball of the season and enter with a three-match winning streak after sweeping Buffalo this past weekend. Ohio's rigorous non-conference competition gives it the No. 22 toughest schedule in the country.
Libero Sam Steele leads the MAC in digs per set with 5.32 and adds 0.34 aces per set, which ranks fifth in the league. Outside hitter Caroline Clippard leads all freshmen in the MAC with a team-high 3.20 kills per set. Opposite Maggie Nedoma is right behind at 3.11 kills per set. Setter Tria McLean averages 8.64 assists per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 26-61 all-time against Ohio, including eight straight losses. The Golden Flashes last beat the Bobcats, 3-2, on October 5, 2017 in Kent. Head coach Don Gromala is 3-18 against Ohio.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center this weekend for two matches against Buffalo. The Flashes will host the annual 'Dig for the Cure' match on Friday.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
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