Kent State University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
Kent State Volleyball Opens Homestand Against MAC West Foes
10/4/2023 3:34:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
The Kent State volleyball team opens October with a four-match homestand at the M.A.C. Center, beginning Thursday against Western Michigan. The Golden Flashes (4-12, 0-5 MAC) will then host Northern Illinois on Friday.
Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
WEEK SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 5
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Western Michigan
Friday, October 6
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Northern Illinois
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
Kent State dropped a road match to Ohio last Tuesday and then fell in a pair of road contests at rival Akron on Thursday and Friday.
Outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire is the MAC leader with 4.00 kills per set. Emma Schroeder provided a secondary attack option from the right side last week with an average of 2.14 kills per set and had a career-high 11 kills in the first match against the Zips. Setter Kendall White orchestrates the offense and averages 7.29 assists per set, which puts her seventh in the conference.
Bryn Roberts has been in the libero jersey most of the season and is sixth in the conference in digs per set (4.12).
MILESTONE WATCH
Sophomore Mackenzie McGuire has totaled 491 kills over 147 sets during her Kent State career.
Senior Bryn Roberts enters the week with 961 career digs and looks to become the 15th member of the Golden Flashes' 1,000 digs club.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Western Michigan
The Broncos (14-2, 4-0 MAC) enter the week 10th in the country with an .875 winning percentage and have won 12 all sets during conference play. Western Michigan posted Power Five wins over Michigan and Wake Forest in non-league action.
Setter Logan Case ranks second nationally with an average of 11.44 assists per set. Outside hitters Maggie King (3.54 kps), Keona Salesman (3.45 kps) and Anna Calcagno (2.89 kps) have all recorded more than 160 kills this season. Libero Andelyn Simkins ranks third in the MAC at 4.49 digs per set.
Northern Illinois
The Huskies (5-11, 3-1 MAC) have won three in a row and posted a team hitting percentage of .294 or better in each contest.
Outside hitter Nikolette Nedic leads the NIU attack with 2.85 kills per set. Middle blocker Charli Atiemo adds 2.16 kills per set and ranks sixth in the MAC with a .324 hitting percentage. Libero Crew Hoffmeier leads the back row with 4.88 digs per set, which ranks second in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State owns a 16-39 record all-time against Western Michigan and had won five of the six meetings prior to a current four-match losing streak.
The Golden Flashes are 11-23 against Northern Illinois and have posted 3-0 sweeps in each of the past two matchups played at the M.A.C. Center.
UP NEXT
Kent State will remain at the M.A.C. Center next week for two matches against Miami on Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14 to conclude the homestand.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebookย for news and updates about the squad.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
