Kent State University
12-7,12-7MAC
Ohio
10-7,10-7MAC
Golden Flashes Suffer First Road Loss at Ohio
3/23/2021 8:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ATHENS, Ohio – The Kent State volleyball team dropped its first road contest of the season, 3-1 (23-25, 13-25, 26-24, 24-26), to Ohio on Tuesday evening inside of the Convocation Center.
Despite a season-worst .160 hitting percentage, the Golden Flashes (12-7) nearly fought back to force a fifth set after falling behind 2-0. Kent State showed great resiliency in overcoming a 24-20 deficit in set three and then pulled even in set four, 22-22, with another 6-0 run.
Junior Melissa Kolurbasi led the Flashes with 13 kills, and freshman Maluhia Ma'a was right behind with a career-best 12 kills. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner recorded 21 assists and freshman Amelia Perdue had 16.
Kent State's defense stepped up after the intermission and held the Bobcats to a .129 hitting percentage over the final two sets. Senior Kaeleigh Stang had a match-high 16 digs. Haffner totaled 10 digs, while Ma'a and sophomore Savannah Matthews added eight each. Junior Lana Strejcek led the Flashes with five blocks and Kolurbasi had a season-high four stuffs.
The first three points of the night went to Kent State, but a 4-0 run by the Bobcats later in the first set put the hosts ahead by three. The Flashes tied it at 18-18 on an ace by Savannah Matthews, but Ohio took the next three points. Kent State was able to pull even at 22-22 but lost three of the next four points.
Ohio hit .417 with 18 kills in the second set, winning 25-13.
Kent State took its first lead in the third set, 7-6, on a kill by Morgan Copley. A setting error on Ohio gave the Flashes a two-point lead. Consecutive aces by Kaeleigh Stang gave Kent State its largest lead of the set, 15-12. The Bobcats answered with a 12-5 run to come within a point of earning a sweep, but the Flashes refused to fall in straight sets for the first time this season. Kent State won six points in a row, as Melissa Kolurbasi extended the match with a kill for the 26-24 victory.
It was a similar stage in the fourth, as Ohio appeared in control with a 22-16 lead. The Flashes scored six straight points to even it up, but the Bobcats closed the match with three of the next four points.
The Flashes will finish the regular season with two road matches at Western Michigan on Friday and Saturday.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
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