Kent State University
11-5,11-5MAC
Ohio
7-6,7-6MAC
Kent State Falls 3-2 in ‘Dig Pink’ Match
3/16/2021 8:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State was unable to slow the Ohio attack over the final three sets in a 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 15-25, 20-25,11-15) setback against the Bobcats during Tuesday evening's 'Dig Pink' match at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (11-5) won the first two sets at home for just the second time this season behind the strength of .151 hitting percentage defense. Ohio posted a blistering .586 hitting percentage in the third set and hit at a .483 clip overall after the intermission to escape with the victory. Kent State tallied 34 digs and five blocks in the opening two sets compared to 29 digs and three blocks over the final three.
Sophomore Savannah Matthews finished with a match-high 19 kills. Sophomore Morgan Copley added 13 kills. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner recorded 48 assists on the night.
Kent State served strong throughout the match with six players contributing to a season-high nine aces. Sophomore Bryn Roberts, junior Melissa Kolurbasi and Matthews led the way with two aces each.
Roberts led the defense with 18 digs. Haffner and Matthews added 15 and 10 digs, respectively. Copley and juniors Lana Strejcek and Danie Tyson all shared the team lead with three blocks.
Kent State never trailed in the first set. After an Ohio attack error on the opening point, the teams traded service errors to give the Flashes the lead for good. Four straight misplays by the Bobcats stretched the lead to 8-3. Back-to-back kills by Morgan Copley made it 19-11, but Ohio answered with five straight points on three kills and two blocks to get within three. Savannah Matthews then took over with three kills in a row to push the lead to six. Ohio scored the next two points before Matthews ended another rally with her sixth kill of the set. The Bobcats followed by sending an attack long and Melissa Kolurbasi brought the set to an end with a physical swing off the block for a 25-18 victory.
Trailing by two early in the second set, a seven-point service run that included two aces by Bryn Roberts put the Flashes ahead 12-7. Ohio fought back to take a 17-16 lead. Following a kill by Danie Tyson to regain the lead, 22-21, sophomore Gracey Jarecke entered off the bench and delivered an ace to force timeout to be called by the Bobcats. After sending a ball into the net on the ensuing point, the Bobcats extended the set with a kill that found space in front of the back line. Copley came through with a strong swing on the next point to give the set to Kent State, 25-22.
Both offenses were hot after the intermission, as the teams traded points in the early part of the third set. The Bobcats' hitters never cooled, and the guests got on the scoreboard with a 25-15 victory. Ohio posted 17 kills and did not have any errors on 29 attempts for a .586 hitting percentage.
Kent State shook off a 6-1 deficit to begin the fourth to creep back into the set. After being tied at points 13 through 18, the Flashes finally went ahead, 19-18, on a kill by Matthews. Ohio regrouped with a timeout and took the next three points before Kent State got within 21-20 on a service error. The Flashes followed with their own service error, and the Bobcats closed it out on the next three points to win, 25-20.
The Flashes led 8-6 in the fifth, but their second service error of the set swung momentum in favor of Ohio. A successful challenge by head coach Don Gromala got Kent State within 10-9, but the Bobcats closed on a 7-1 run for the second set in a row to leave the M.A.C. Center with a win.
Kent State concludes its home schedule this weekend against Northern Illinois. Matches are scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 19 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
