Kent State University
4-6,0-0MAC
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Kansas
5-3,0-0Big 12
Kent State Falls to Kansas in Weekend Finale
9/11/2021 6:24:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
LAWRENCE, Kan. โ Despite a slow start, Kent State battled host Kansas in a 3-0 (21-25, 24-26, 17-25) loss in its final contest at the Kansas Invitational on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (4-6) were able to tie each of the first two sets at 20 points or later but could not score the crucial points and fell behind 2-0 at the intermission. Junior Savannah Matthews scored a match-high 14.5 points and totaled 13 kills and 13 digs for her second double-double of the season.
After trailing by seven points early in the first set, Kent State clawed back to tie it at 20-20 on a kill by Savannah Matthews. The Jayhawks scored the next three points before an attack error got the Flashes within 23-21. Kansas delivered kills on each of the next two points for a 25-21 win.
Kent State opened the second set leading 8-2 and remained ahead until the Jayhawks fought back for a 17-15 advantage. After falling behind by three, the Flashes were able to tie it at 23-23 and again at 24-24. Kansas won the next two points, however, and escaped with a 2-0 lead.
The Flashes lost the first four points in the third and fell behind by as many as six. Matthews recorded kills on three straight points to get within 14-11. Kent State got back within three at 19-16, but Kansas took six of the next seven points to close the match.
Redshirt senior Alex Haffner totaled 33 assists. Junior Melissa Kolurbasi and freshman Ainsley Guse posted six kills apiece.
Bryn Roberts led the defense with 14 digs and Guse totaled a team-best four blocks.
Kent State will host the Golden Flashes Invitational next weekend to open a four-match homestand. Kent State will play Youngstown State on Thursday, Sept. 16 and Duquesne on Saturday, Sept. 18.
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