Kent State University
3-0,3-0MAC
Buffalo
0-5,0-5MAC
Matthews’ 16 Kills Powers Kent State Past Buffalo
2/4/2021 8:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kent State posted a season-best .329 hitting percentage during Thursday night's 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-18) win over host Buffalo inside of Alumni Arena.
Sophomore Savannah Matthews led the Golden Flashes (3-0) with 16 kills while hitting at a career-best .520 clip. Sophomore Taylor Heberle finished with seven kills, while juniors Lana Strejcek and Danie Tyson added five kills apiece. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner tallied 33 assists while running an efficient offense.
In addition to excellent serving that included a career-high three aces, senior Kaeleigh Stang had a match-high 10 digs as Kent State held the Bulls to a .140 hitting percentage. Junior Erin Gardner added eight digs and was perfect in 21 service reception opportunities. Tyson had a team-best four total blocks.
The Flashes used an early 6-0 run to take control of the opening set. A 5-0 run later on gave Kent State its largest lead of the set at 17-6. Back-to-back aces by Kaeleigh Stang made it 24-13. Buffalo scored the next two points before Danie Tyson gave the Flashes a 25-15 victory with a crosscourt swing off a slide.
Kent State never trailed in the second set and used an 8-3 run to lead by six. The Bulls got within four, but the Flashes responded with a 6-2 run to go ahead 23-15. The teams traded the next four points with Tyson once again ending the set with a kill, this time with a score of 25-17. Savannah Matthews was nearly unstoppable in the set with eight kills and a .778 hitting percentage.
The third set was the most competitive of the night and featured seven ties. Trailing 9-7, Kent State scored the next five points as part of a larger 10-3 run to gain separation. A blocking error gave the set to the Flashes, 25-18.
Kent State and Buffalo will take the court for a rematch on Friday with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.
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