Kent State University
Ohio
Kent State Visits Ohio For Tuesday Volleyball Contest
3/22/2021 6:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State is scheduled for three road matches during the final week of the Mid-American Conference volleyball season, beginning at Ohio Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (12-6) are third in the Mid-American Conference standings and ranks fifth in the conference with a .230 team hitting percentage and 13.48 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 20th in the nation in assists per set (10.92 apg). Haffner has utilized being surrounded by several attacking options and the Flashes are the only team in the conference with six players who have at least 100 kills. Sophomore Savannah Matthews is fourth in the MAC with an average of 4.23 points and fifth with 3.82 kills per set. Sophomores Taylor Heberle and Morgan Copley average 3.02 kills and 2.62 kills per set, respectively. Juniors Lana Strejcek (1.67 kps) and Danie Tyson (1.72 kps) have been efficient offensive weapons in the middle. Strejcek has a MAC-best .345 hitting percentage, while Tyson ranks sixth with a .326 hitting percentage.
Kent State is 28th in the country in digs (17.75 dps) while ranking second in the MAC in opponent hitting percentage (.188) and fifth blocks (2.06 bps). Junior Erin Gardner averages a team-best 4.75 digs per set. Freshman Bryn Roberts (3.05 dps), Matthews (3.00 dps) and Haffner (2.82 dps) have also been key contributors to the floor defense. Strejcek leads the conference with 19 solo blocks and is third overall in blocks per set (1.16).
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats (9-7) went 3-1 last week with three matches going five sets. Ohio overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Kent State on Tuesday, then returned to the Convocation Center the next night and beat Toledo, 3-2. The Bobcats then split their weekend series against second-place Western Michigan.
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 2.86 kills and 0.93 blocks per set. Giacomazzi, a two-time MAC Setter of the Year, is fifth in the conference at 10.84 assists per set. Nedoma is averaging 1.54 kills per set. Outside hitter/right side Lauren Park leads the team with 3.78 kills per set, which ranks sixth in the MAC. Outside hitter Mariana Rodrigues adds 2.92 kills per set. Libero Sam Steele ranks 16th in the country with an average of 5.58 digs per sett.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 26-60 all-time against Ohio, including seven straight losses. The Golden Flashes last beat the Bobcats, 3-2, on October 5, 2017 in Kent. Head coach Don Gromala is 3-17 against Ohio.
UP NEXT
Kent State travels to Western Michigan to close out the regular season on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
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