Kent State University
1-0,0-0MAC
UAlbany
0-1,0-0America East
Volleyball Takes Two Friday at JMU Invitational
8/26/2022 7:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Kent State volleyball team posted 3-1 victories over UAlbany and Robert Morris Friday at the JMU Invitational, marking a successful debut for head coach Haley Eckerman.
The Golden Flashes (2-0) limited attacking errors and hit at a .300 clip as a team. Senior Savannah Matthews led the way with 28 kills and 30 digs on the day. Graduate student Danie Tyson and fifth-year Lana Strejcek were efficient offensive options Friday. Tyson totaled 17 kills while hitting .593, while Strejcek had 13 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Freshmen Mackenzie McGuire and Mia Soerensen provided solid contributions in their collegiate debuts, combining for 27 kills and a .396 hitting percentage. Graduate student Alex Haffner recorded 75 assists and a team-high seven aces.
Behind the strength of 20.5 blocks, Kent State's defense held opponents to a .153 hitting percentage. Strejcek led the way with 13 blocks and Soerensen and Tyson added 10 and seven stuffs, respectively. Senior Gracey Jarecke bolstered the back row play with 30 digs.
Match 1: Kent State 3, UAlbany 1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-23)
UAlbany hit .454 without any errors in the opening set, but the match changed once Lana Strejcek entered to start the second set. Led by Strejcek's career-high nine stuffs, the Golden Flashes totaled 13.5 blocks over the final three sets, holding the Great Danes to a .040 clip in the process. Mia Soerensen recorded six blocks.
Savannah Matthews led the offense with 12 kills and tallied 11 digs while adding a career-high five blocks. Taylor Heberle added 11 kills. Alex Haffner posted a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs.
How it Happened…
Set 1: An 11-point run allowed UAlbany to build a lead too large to overcome. The Great Danes recorded 15 kills on 33 kills.
Set 2: After a back-and-forth start, Kent State used a five-point run to go ahead 14-11. The lead reached four points but UAlbany surged back for a 22-21 advantage. The Flashes regrouped after taking a timeout and scored the final four points, as Lana Strejcek's kill evened it at 1-1.
Set 3: Several blocks helped Kent State jump out to a 12-2 lead. The Flashes totaled eight in the set as UAlbany finished with more attack errors (10) than kills (9).
Set 4: Another strong start saw the Flashes lead 7-1. UAlbany fought back and led 23-21 late before Kent State tied it on kills by Mackenzie McGuire and Mia Soerensen and then closing it out on an ace from Lana Strejcek and another kill by Soerensen.
Match 2: Kent State 3, Robert Morris 1 (25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15)
Kent State dominated the first two sets and finished the match with an impressive .383 hitting percentage and 14 aces. Savannah Matthews totaled a team-high 16 kills with 19 digs. Mackenzie McGuire added 12 kills. Alex Haffner led the way behind the service line with a career-high five aces and recorded 47 assists. Gracey Jarecke anchored the floor defense with a career-best 20 digs.
How it Happened…
Set 1: It was all Kent State after dropping the first two points of the contest. The Golden Flashes posted 15 kills and hit at a .667 clip to take the set convincingly.
Set 2: A nine-point service run by Savannah Matthews that was highlighted by three aces resulted in a 9-1 lead to start the set. Robert Morris made it interesting with a late 10-2 run, forcing a timeout. Kent State won four of five points after play resumed to lead 2-0 in the match.
Set 3: Three untimely service errors prevented the Flashes from overcoming a five-point deficit and the Colonials extended the match to a fourth set.
Set 4: Kent State doubled RMU up at 12-6 before its lead was cut to 15-13. Danie Tyson provided an answer with a kill and followed by teaming with Mackenzie McGuire on a block. The run reached nine points, including three straight aces by Bryn Roberts, to give the Flashes match point. RMU took the next two points to stay alive before Alex Haffner put it away with a kill.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will conclude opening weekend at the JMU Invitational on Saturday against host James Madison. The 7 p.m. match will be streamed on ESPN+.
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