Kent State University
5-6,0-0MAC
Youngstown State
2-8,0-0Horizon
Flashes Power Past Penguins
9/16/2021 9:16:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio โ Kent State carried the momentum from a dominant first set to defeat Northeast Ohio rival Youngstown State, 3-1 (25-7, 25-20, 15-25, 25-18) during Thursday evening's opening match of the Golden Flashes Invitational.
The Golden Flashes (5-6) led by as many as 15 points in set one and posted an incredible .619 hitting percentage for the 25-7 wire-to-wire victory.
Kent State's .373 hitting percentage for the entire match was its best since a 3-0 win over Akron on Nov. 13, 2015, and the highest in a four-set match during the tenure of 10th-year head coach Don Gromala. Freshman Ainsley Guse recorded a team-high 13 kills on 16 errorless swings for an .812 hitting percentage, which is the third highest in program history and best in the past 25 seasons. Guse also led the Flashes with five blocks.
The decision-making of redshirt senior Alex Haffner allowed the offense to perform with such efficiency. Haffner totaled 46 assists and shared the team lead with three aces.
Senior Melissa Kolurbasi and junior Savannah Matthews provided offensive production from the pin with 11 kills apiece. Junior Morgan Copley added nine kills and senior Danie Tyson was right behind with eight.
Sophomore Bryn Roberts led the defense with 18 digs. Freshman Kiersten Kraus added 11 digs to tally double-digits for the first time in a Kent State uniform.
The Flashes will return to action at the M.A.C. Center against Duquesne at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the finale of the Golden Flashes Invitational.
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