Kent State University
11-18,6-11MAC
Miami
7-20,5-12MAC
Resilient Kent State Defeats Miami, 3-1
11/13/2021 8:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State responded to a disappointing five-set loss one night earlier and defeated Miami, 3-1 (25-19, 14-25, 26-24, 25-19), in a Mid-American Conference volleyball contest on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (11-18, 6-11 MAC) served tough and played excellent back row defense to keep the ball off the floor and provide the offense with extra scoring opportunities. Junior Gracey Jarecke had a career-high four aces and was one of six players with at least six digs on the night. Senior Erin Gardner led all players with 20 digs, while redshirt senior Alex Haffner totaled 12 digs and 42 assists for her 11th double-double of the season.
Junior Taylor Heberle fueled the offense and posted a match-high 16 kills. Junior Morgan Copley joined her in double-figures with 10 kills, while seniors Melissa Kolurbasi and Danie Tyson were right behind with nine kills and eight kills, respectively.
Kent State totaled 10 blocks in the match. Redshirt junior Jacqlyn Caspers led the way with five stuffs.
The early portion of the first set featured 12 ties and five lead changes before the Flashes began to pull away with a 7-2 run to lead by four. The RedHawks got within 18-16, but Kent State answered by winning six of the next seven points. After a pair of unsuccessful set point opportunities, Heberle grazed the fingertips of a blocker with a powerful swing to close the set, 25-19. The Flashes received six kills each from Heberle and Tyson and posted a .364 hitting percentage as a team in the set.
Miami evened the match with a wire-to-wire 25-14 victory in the second set. Kent State was unable to get the offense going and hit at a -.036 clip.
Despite trailing by three points early in the third set, the Flashes rallied to build a 20-14 lead. The RedHawks got within one before Haffner came through with a big solo stuff at the net off an overpass to keep Kent State in the lead. Copley followed with a kill to make it 22-19, but Miami won four in a row to take a 23-22 advantage. After an unsuccessful challenge by the Flashes, the RedHawks sent the ensuing service into the net. Tied again at 24-24, Miami sent a service long and followed with an attack into the net to give Kent State the set, 26-24.
The Flashes lost the first point in set four before leading 5-1. The lead extended to as many as five, but Miami was able to pull even at 16-16. Kolurbasi had an answer for Kent State with a physical swing off the block for a kill to take the lead for good. Leading 22-19, the Flashes won three straight points to win the match.
The regular season will conclude with Senior Night at the M.A.C. Center, as the Flashes will host Ohio at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
