Kent State University
Buffalo
Heberle Leads Flashes Past Bulls
10/23/2021 10:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Junior Taylor Heberle recorded six of her career-high 22 kills in the fifth set on Saturday as Kent State avenged a five-set setback to visiting Buffalo one night prior with a 3-2 victory (20-25, 25-22, 27-29, 25-21, 15-12).
After struggling offensively in the fifth set of two matches earlier in the week, the Golden Flashes (10-13, 5-6 MAC) totaled 11 kills and hit at a .318 clip during Saturday's final set.
Successful challenges by head coach Don Gromala to overturn points helped Kent State maintain momentum early in the decisive set. It appeared that the Bulls had overcome a 2-0 Flashes start when Taylor Heberle's attack was ruled to have ricocheted off the tape and landed out of bounds, but official review showed that the ball hit off a Buffalo blocker to give Kent State the point. Jacqlyn Caspers' attack on the next point sailed out of bounds, but the Flashes took the point again after replay showed the Bulls' blocker touched the ball at the net.
Kent State kept it going and won the next two points as well to lead 6-2 and force Buffalo to call timeout. The Flashes' lead was trimmed to 9-7 before a kill by Melissa Kolurbasi started a stretch of 11 consecutive sideouts, with Heberle's physical swing off the block giving Kent State the 15-12 victory.
The memorable night for Heberle started as a spectator, as she saw her first action since Oct. 2 at the start of the second set. The Mission Viejo, California native was the Flashes' go-to hitter at the end of all three sets they won. She registered kills for Kent State's final three points in the second, final two points in the fourth and final three points in the fifth.
Senior Melissa Kolurbasi provided balance at the pin and finished with 16 kills. Senior Danie Tyson added 11 kills while hitting .625 and totaling five blocks. Redshirt junior Jacqlyn Caspers also had five blocks.
Redshirt senior Alex Haffner collected her 10 double-double of the season with 55 assists and 12 digs.
Senior Erin Gardner led all players with 28 digs. Junior Gracey Jarecke (13 digs), freshman Kiersten Kraus (12 digs) and junior Savannah Matthews (10 digs) were all key defensive performers.
Kent State will be on the road the next two weekends, beginning with single matches at Northern Illinois on Oct. 29 and Western Michigan on Oct. 30.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
