Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Flashes End Regular Season at Western Michigan
3/25/2021 4:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State visits Western Michigan to bring the spring 2021 volleyball regular season to an end this weekend. The two-match series begins Friday at 6 p.m. and concludes on Saturday at 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a season-low .160 hitting percentage and losing the first two sets, the Golden Flashes (12-7) nearly fought back to force a fifth set at Ohio on Tuesday night. Kent State overcame a 24-20 deficit in set three to win, 26-24, and then pulled even in set four, 22-22, with another 6-0 run before falling 25-23. Melissa Kolurbasi posted a .387 hitting percentage and 13 kills to lead the Flashes. Maluhia Ma'a added a career-high 12 kills. Kaeleigh Stang led the defense with 16 digs, while Lana Strejcek led the team with five blocks.
FLASH FACTS
Kent State is third in the Mid-American Conference standings and can clinch a spot in next week's four-team MAC Tournament with a single win. Redshirt junior Alex Haffner, a three-time MAC East Division Setter of the Week honoree this season, is third in the conference in assists per set (10.61 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 leads Kent State with an average of 3.70 kills per set. Sophomore Taylor Heberle (3.02 kps), junior Melissa Kolurbasi (2.59 kps) and sophomore Morgan Copley (2.53 kps) all add more than 2.50 kills per set. Juniors Lana Strejcek (1.60 kps) and Danie Tyson (1.68 kps) have been efficient offensive weapons in the middle. Strejcek's .340 hitting percentage is the second-best in the MAC, while Tyson ranks 10th with a .308 hitting percentage.
Kent State is second in the conference in digs (17.59 dps) and opponent hitting percentage (.190). Junior Erin Gardner averages a team-best 4.75 digs per set. Freshman Bryn Roberts (3.00 dps), Matthews (2.94 dps), Haffner (2.80 dps) and senior Kaeleigh Stang (2.67 dps) all add more than 2.50 digs per set. Strejcek leads the conference with 19 solo blocks and is second overall in blocks per set (1.16).
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos (15-4) have won nine of their last 10 matches to secure the West Division title and No. 2 seed in next weekend's MAC Tournament. Western Michigan's explosive offense leads the conference in hitting percentage (.256), kills per set (14.72) and assists per set (13.61).
Setter Logan Case is the national leader with 12.14 assists per set. Outside hitter Rachel Bontrager leads the MAC with 4.91 points and 4.52 kills per set with an efficient .309 hitting percentage that ranks ninth in the conference. Outside hitter Maggie King adds 3.59 kills per set, as the duo accounts for 53 percent of the Broncos' offense. Libero Kaley Smith tallies 5.04 digs per set, which ranks third in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State owns a 16-35 record all-time against Western Michigan but has had success in recent years. The Golden Flashes have won each of the past two meetings and five of the last six overall. Head coach Don Gromala is 5-3 against the Broncos.
UP NEXT
The Spring 2021 MAC Volleyball Championship will be held from April 2-3 inside of the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
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