Kent State University
Ohio
Volleyball Hosts Ohio for ‘Dig Pink’ Match on Tuesday
3/15/2021 4:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will host Ohio in its annual 'Dig Pink' match on Tuesday, March 16. First serve at the M.A.C. Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.
DIG PINK
Despite the postponement of the season resulting in not playing any matches in October, the Golden Flashes will hold their annual 'Dig Pink' match to promote raising funds and support for the fight against breast cancer. Kent State will wear its special pink uniforms during Tuesday's match. Additionally, the court inside of the M.A.C. Center will have pink court lines for the entire month of March.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Flashes (11-4) improved to 8-0 on the road with 3-2 and 3-1 wins at Ball State last week. Setter Alex Haffner led the way with averages of 11.33 assists per set and 3.22 digs per set. Outside hitter Savannah Matthews posted a team-high 3.33 kills per set, while middle blockers Danie Tyson and Lana Strejcek dominated play at the net. Tyson had a team-high .388 hitting percentage with 24 kills (2.67 kps) and eight total blocks, while Strejcek hit .341 with 20 kills (2.22 kps) and 10 total blocks. Libero Bryn Roberts led the floor defense with an average of 4.56 digs per set, as Ball State was limited to a .149 hitting percentage.
FLASH FACTS
Kent State is third in the Mid-American Conference standings and ranks third in the conference with a .236 team hitting percentage and 13.72 kills per set. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner, a three-time MAC East Division Setter of the Week honoree this season, is third in the MAC and 13th in the nation in assists per set (11.26 apg). Haffner has utilized being surrounded by several attacking options and the Flashes are the only team in the conference with five players who have at least 100 kills. Sophomore Savannah Matthews is third in the MAC with an average of 4.37 points and fourth with 3.96 kills per set. Sophomores Taylor Heberle and Morgan Copley average 3.02 kills and 2.44 kills per set, respectively. Juniors Lana Strejcek (1.86 kps) and Danie Tyson (1.72 kps) have been efficient offensive weapons in the middle. Strejcek has a MAC-best .360 hitting percentage, while Tyson ranks fifth with a .331 hitting percentage.
Kent State is 16th in the country in digs (18.38 dps) while ranking second in the MAC in opponent hitting percentage (.180) and fifth blocks (2.09 bps). Junior Erin Gardner averages a team-best 4.75 digs per set. Freshman Bryn Roberts (3.18 dps) has averaged 5.00 digs per set while wearing the libero jersey the past two weeks. Matthews and Haffner add 3.11 digs and 2.97 digs per set, respectively. Strejcek leads the conference with 18 solo blocks and is fourth overall in blocks per set (1.14).
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats (6-6) are 2-4 in road matches this season and begin a busy week with four scheduled matches in which they host Toledo on Wednesday and Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday.
Ohio's trio of middle blocker Tia Jimerson, setter Vera Giacomazzi and right side Maggie Nedoma accounted for half of the MAC East Division Preseason All-MAC Team. Jimerson, the 2019 MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 3.05 kills and 1.05 blocks per set. Giacomazzi, a two-time MAC Setter of the Year, is fifth in the conference at 10.51 assists per set. Nedoma is averaging 2.02 kills per set. Outside hitter/right side Lauren Park leads the team with 3.74 kills per set, which ranks fifth in the MAC. Middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell has a team-best .346 hitting percentage that ranks fourth in the conference. Libero Sam Steele ranks 28th in the country with an average of 5.37 digs per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 26-59 all-time against Ohio, including six straight losses. The Golden Flashes, who are 18-19 at home in the series, last beat the Bobcats, 3-2, on October 5, 2017 in Kent. Head coach Don Gromala is 3-16 against Ohio.
UP NEXT
Kent State is scheduled to welcome Northern Illinois to campus for its final home matches on Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
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