Kent State University
11-4,11-4MAC
Ball State
6-9,6-9MAC
Strong Defensive Efforts Helps Flashes Complete Series Sweep of Cardinals
3/12/2021 7:37:00β―PM | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. β Kent State held host Ball State to a .029 hitting percentage over the final three sets in a 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-16) victory to complete the series sweep on Friday afternoon at the Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Golden Flashes (11-4) are now 8-0 in road matches this season. Middle blockers Lana Strejcek and Danie Tyson were forces at the net to lead Kent State on both offense and defense. Strejcek had 10 kills and two errors on 19 attempts for a .421 hitting percentage and totaled six blocks, including three solo stuffs. Tyson also had 10 kills with a single error on 20 swings for a .450 hitting percentage and matched her season-high with five total blocks.
Redshirt junior Alex Haffner posted with 43 assists and 10 digs from the setter position.
Freshman Bryn Roberts led all players with 16 digs. Sophomore Savannah Matthews contributed nine digs and nine kills.
Kent State scored the first two points of the match on kills by Morgan Copley and Savannah Matthews. Ball State scored four straight points to go ahead 9-5 and eventually built its lead to eight. The Flashes continued fighting and scored three in a row to get withinΒ 23-18, forcing the Cardinals to take timeout. Ball State earned the next two points for the 25-18 victory while hitting at a .314 clip in the set.
The Flashes jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second and led by five or more for most of the set. The Cardinals got within 23-19, but a service error and attack error after a timeout gave the set to Kent State, 25-19, and tied the match.
A competitive third set featured 12 ties, and the Flashes appeared to finally take control with a 23-20 lead following a kill by Lana Strejcek, ace by Amelia Perdue and kill by Alex Haffner. Savannah Matthews delivered a kill to make it 24-22, but Ball State was able to tie it and force extra points. Strejcek and Melissa Kolurbasi combined for a block on the next point, and an attack error followed to allow Kent State to take a 2-1 lead.
The Flashes led 5-2 early in the fourth but then fell behind,Β 6-5. Kent State went back ahead by three, but a service error brought the Cardinals within 16-14. Strejcek gave the Flashes a sideout, starting an 8-1 run that gave them an opportunity for match point. Ball State ended the rally with a kill, but Strejcek made sure the hosts were unable to start a comeback, blocking an attempt back onto the Cardinals' side of the net. A bad second touch led to a desperation volley that landed out of bounds to bring the match to a close.
Kent State is scheduled to host three matches inside of the M.A.C. Center next week. The Golden Flashes will host Ohio on Tuesday, March 16 and then welcome Northern Illinois to campus for matches on Friday, March 19Β and Saturday, March 20.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onΒ Twitter,Β InstagramΒ andΒ FacebookΒ for news and updates about the squad.
