Kent State University
8-2,8-2MAC
Bowling Green
10-0,10-0MAC
Golden Flashes Fall in Five-Set Battle for First in MAC Standings
2/25/2021 9:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State battled back after dropping the first two sets before falling to Bowling Green, 3-2 (16-25, 19-25, 25-23, 29-27, 13-15), in a match between the two top teams in the Mid-American Conference standings on Thursday at the Basketball and Volleyball Development Center.
The Golden Flashes (8-2) displayed great resilience against an undefeated Falcons team that has received votes in each of the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll each of the past two weeks. Bowling Green took a 22-20 lead in the third set and was in position to earn its seventh sweep of the season, but Kent State took the next three points, and five of the next six overall, to push it extend the match. The Flashes fought off two match points in the fourth before winning the set, 29-27. Despite trailing by as many as five in the shortened fifth, Kent State came all the way back to get within 13-12. Even once the scoreboard showed 15-12 in favor of the visitors, head coach Don Gromala gave his squad new life with a successful challenge. Digs by junior Erin Gardner and freshman Maluhia Ma'a on the ensuing point gave the Flashes an opportunity to tie, but the Falcons made their 14th block of the night to remain unbeaten.
Kent State led in many statistical categories decisively, including a 75-61 advantage in kills. The Flashes had 33 attack errors compare to only 14 for Bowling Green. Sophomore Savannah Matthews matched her career-high with 22 kills to lead all players. Classmates Morgan Copley and Taylor Heberle also contributed double-digits kills, totaling 17 and 15, respectively. Copley caught fire in the fourth set with nine kills. Junior Lana Strejcek added nine kills with one error on 14 attempts for a .571 hitting percentage.
Redshirt junior Alex Haffner and freshman Amelia Perdue shared setting duties. Haffner had a team-high 45 assists and Perdue tallied 22.
Kent State led 104-85 in digs, as four Flashes finished with at least 17. Junior Erin Gardner led the way with 21 with Haffner (19), Matthews (18) and Perdue (17) right behind. Ma'a added a career-high 11 digs.
The Flashes will look to even the season series when the teams meet for a rematch at 5 p.m. on Friday in Kent.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
