Kent State University
11-6,11-6MAC
Northern Illinois
8-10,8-10MAC
Copley’s Career-High 19 Kills Leads Flashes Against NIU
3/19/2021 9:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Sophomore Morgan Copley posted a career-high 19 kills and a .514 hitting percentage Friday night as Kent State dropped a Mid-American Conference volleyball contest to Northern Illinois, 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 22-25,13-15).
For the second time in four nights, the Golden Flashes (11-6) were unable to win a decisive fifth on their home floor at the M.A.C. Center. Sophomore Savannah Matthews posted a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner totaled 51 assists. Senior Kaeleigh Stang matched her career-high with 22 digs.
Kent State won the first four points of the match and took its largest lead of the set, 18-10, on an attack error by the Huskies. Facing set point, NIU scored six in a row to get within 24-23. A terrific pass by Kaeleigh Stang off the ensuing serve allowed Alex Haffner to set the ball in a great location for Danie Tyson to hammer it for a kill to end the set.
After falling behind 18-10 in the second set, the Flashes rallied to get within 20-18. The Huskies were able to side out and then took the next four points for a 25-18 set victory.
Kent State trailed by four early in the third before fighting back to lead 13-12 on a kill by Morgan Copley. The teams would be tied four more times in the set, but the Flashes took the lead for good after back-to-back attack errors by NIU. The teams traded service errors, and Kent State put the set away, 25-21, on a kill by Copley and attach error by the Huskies.
An 8-2 run allowed NIU to open a six-point lead in the fourth. The Flashes battled back and got within 21-20 on a kill by Melissa Kolurbasi, but their guests were able to win, 25-22, and force a fifth set.
Copley put Kent State on the board first in the final set with a kill, but the Huskies came back to lead 8-4. The Flashes countered with their own 8-4 run to even the score. NIU was able to post back-to-back kills for a 14-12 lead, but Tyson delivered a big swing to extend the match. Following a timeout, the Huskies were able to end the match with a kill.
Kent State will recognize Ezri Edwards, Kaeleigh Stang and Natalie Tagala as part of Senior prior to Saturday's 3 p.m. match against the Huskies.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
