Kent State University
Ohio
Volleyball Travels to Ohio for Finale
11/15/2022 3:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team will conclude the 2022 season Wednesday night at Ohio. The Mid-American Conference matchup will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
The Golden Flashes (13-15, 4-13 MAC) have lost five in a row following a pair of setbacks to Toledo during Senior Weekend. Fifth-year Lana Strejcek led the way on both offense and defense with 23 kills while hitting at a .373 clip and 11 total blocks. Senior Savannah Matthews added 21 kills and a team-high 26 digs over the two matches.
Matthews has been a productive six-rotation contributor with averages of 3.12 kills, which ranks eighth in the MAC, and 2.78 digs per set. The outside hitter is one of only six student-athletes in program history who have recorded 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs during her career.
Graduate student Alex Haffner is averaging 9.12 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the MAC. She has totaled 1,187 digs in a Kent State uniform, passing Stephanie Doran for the program's record by a setter last month in a victory at Miami.
Graduate student Danie Tyson, Kent State's all-time hitting percentage leader (.305), and Strejcek are both hitting at a .308 clip. Both middle blockers are averaging just under one block per set and rank in the top-10 in the conference in both categories.
Graduate student Erin Gardner leads the team with 3.78 digs per set and became the third member of Kent State's 2,000-digs club at Buffalo on Oct. 21.
Mackenzie McGuire is top among MAC freshmen with 3.01 kills per set. The 2021 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year has recorded double-digit kills in 15 matches, including back-to-back 24-kill performances against Murray State and Charleston Southern en route to MVP honors at the Marshall Invite.
Kent State has had five student-athletes earn MAC Player of the Week awards this season, which is tied for second most in the conference. Haffner won MAC East Division Setter of the Week twice while Gardner (defensive), senior Gracey Jarecke (defensive), Matthews (offensive) and McGuire (offensive) each earned a selection.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Bobcats (18-10, 12-5 MAC) split a pair of home contests with MAC co-leader Ball State over the weekend and have won 8 of their 10 past matches overall.
Ohio is the only team in the conference with three players who have recorded at least 275 kills this season. Middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell ranks in the top-10 in the MAC at 3.19 kills per set and a .299 hitting percentage. Outside hitters Caroline Clippard (2.93 kills/set) and Olivia Margolies (2.80 kills/set) are also reliable attackers for the Bobcats.
Libero Sam Steele leads the defense with 4.44 digs per set, which ranks sixth in the conference.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
