Kent State University
Evansville
Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Evansville
8/27/2021 8:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Kent State lost its 2021 volleyball season opener to Evansville, 3-0 (24-26, 14-25, 22-25), at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes (0-1) recorded 10 blocks in the match to register double-digit stuffs in a three-setter for just the second time since 2010. Freshman Ainsley Guse led the way in her collegiate debut with five block assists. Redshirt junior Jacqlyn Caspers, junior Savannah Matthews and senior Danie Tyson totaled three blocks each.
Setter Alex Haffner had success going to her middles early, as Guse and Tyson combined for seven of Kent State's 11 kills in an opening set that featured 16 ties and nine lead changes. Tied at 14-14, Evansville got a kill from Melanie Feliciano to go ahead at the media timeout. A kill by Tyson evened the score and then Guse and junior Morgan Copley teamed for a block to put the Flashes back in the lead. The Purple Aces answered by taking the next four points and eventually led 24-20. Kent State fought back to make it 24-24 following back-to-back blocks, an attack error and an ace from sophomore Bryn Roberts. The comeback was thwarted, and Evansville won the set, 26-24.
The Purple Aces carried that momentum into the second set and took control early with a 7-1 lead. The Flashes got within three points twice but were unable to have sustained success on offense and finished the set with only eight kills and a .059 hitting percentage.
Savannah Matthews caught fire in the third set and totaled nine kills on 16 swings. The teams split the first 16 points before Evansville appeared to pull away with an 11-2 run. Down to their final points, the Flashes put together an 8-2 run of their own to get within 24-22 before Alondra Vazquez was able to bring the match to a close with her 25th kill of the contest.
Matthews led Kent State with 13 kills and Tyson added nine kills with a .562 hitting percentage. Haffner registered 28 assists. The floor defense was led by Roberts' match-high 13 digs.
The opening weekend of the season will conclude with a pair of matches on Saturday. The Flashes will play SIUE at 1:30 p.m. and then host Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m.
