Kent State University
Evansville
Volleyball Begins 2021 Fall Season at Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational
8/26/2021 5:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will compete outside of the Mid-American Conference for the first time in 706 days this weekend as it starts the 2021 fall season with three contests at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.
The Golden Flashes will be in action at 4:30 p.m. on Friday against Evansville. On Saturday, Kent State will play SIUE at 1:30 p.m. and then conclude the tournament against host Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. Every match of the tournament will be streamed on ESPN+.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, August 27
4:30 p.m. Kent State vs. Evansville
Saturday, August 28
1:30 p.m. Kent State vs. SIUE
7:00 p.m. Kent State at Purdue Fort Wayne
Tenth-year head coach Don Gromala fields a veteran roster that includes six student-athletes who have already competed in three seasons of Division I volleyball. The entire starting lineup and 94 percent of the Flashes' scoring from the spring season remains on the roster.
Kent State is projected to finish second in the MAC East Division according to the MAC Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll that was announced on Tuesday. Setter Alex Haffner and outside hitter Savannah Matthews were named to the Preseason All-MAC East Team.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Evansville
The Purple Aces return five starters from the spring season and were picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll. Evansville went 6-14 but finished strong by splitting the final six matches during the spring.
All-MVC First Team performer Alondra Vazquez and Melanie Feliciano provided the Purple Aces with the most productive pin duo in the conference last season. Vazquez led the MVC with 4.43 kills per set and added 3.55 digs per set, while Feliciano's 3.89 kills per set ranked fourth in the conference. The Puerto Rico natives accounted for just under 70 percent of the team's kills last season.
Middle blockers Brooke Springer and Hannah Watkins each averaged around one block per set and libero Rachel Basinski led the way with 3.69 digs per set. Senior Cecilia Thon is Evansville's most experienced setter with 539 assists in 255 sets of action.
SIUE
The Cougars are projected to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll following a 10-4 record in the spring. Middle Blocker Savannah Christian was named to the Preseason All-OVC Team.
Christian is joined by Annie Ellis to form a strong middle duo. Ellis led the OVC with 1.25 blocks per set last season and Christian added 0.89 blocks per set to help the Cougars rank 21st nationally at 2.60 blocks per set. Christian posted a team-high .343 hitting percentage and ranked second at 2.50 kills per set. Outside hitter Sydney Hummert led SIUE with 2.77 kills per set and is the only returner who tallied at least 100 digs (124) in the spring.
Purdue Fort Wayne
The host Mastodons posted a 10-7 record in the spring and were voted to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. Purdue Fort Wayne lost an exhibition contest at Ball State, 3-1, on Saturday.
All-American outside hitter Katie Crowe headlines the returners. Crowe averaged 4.05 kills per set and 3.17 digs per set to earn Horizon League Player of the Year honors during the Mastodons' inaugural season in the conference. Opposite Madelyn Wurster provides an attacking threat at the opposite pin and posted 2.78 kills per set. Setter Madison Gates earned All-Horizon League First Team accolades after averaging 9.83 assists per set and 3.05 digs per set. Libero Rachel Crucis led the defense with 4.68 digs per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Kent State is 6-5 all-time against the tournament field. The Golden Flashes have gone 3-1 against Evansville but lost the most recent matchup in five sets during the 2016 season. Kent State took down SIUE, 3-2, in the 2011 opener. The Flashes have a 2-4 record against Purdue Fort Wayne and dropped a three-setter at the M.A.C. Center in 2018.
UP NEXT
Kent State will open the home schedule on Tuesday, August 31 against Saint Francis (Pa.). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
