Kent State University
0-2,0-0MAC
UC San Diego
2-0,0-0Big West
Kent State Drops Pair to End Opening Weekend
8/26/2023 5:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
INDIANAPOLIS – Kent State lost a pair of matches by 3-1 scores to UC San Diego and Fresno State on Saturday as the opening weekend of the 2023 volleyball season came to an end at the Bulldog Brawl.
The Golden Flashes (0-3) were led offensively by sophomore Mackenzie McGuire, who totaled 31 kills while adding 20 digs. Sophomore Kendall White posted a pair of double-doubles and finished with 59 assists, 25 digs and 10 kills.
Senior Bryn Roberts and redshirt senior Kiana Mack led the way on defense and from behind the service line. Roberts tallied 45 digs and seven aces while Mack had seven blocks and four aces.
Match 1: UC San Diego 3, Kent State 1 (15-25, 19-25, 25-18, 21-25)
Kent State put together a strong blocking performance with 11 team stuffs. Anna Shoemake and Sadie Wright led the way with four blocks each. Bryn Roberts added 26 digs to help hold the Tritons to a .141 hitting percentage.
Mackenzie McGuire logged her first double-double of the campaign with 16 kills and 11 digs. Kendall White displayed her versatility with 31 assists, 14 digs, five kills, two solo blocks and one ace.
How it Happened…
Set 1: Mackenzie McGuire put Kent State on the board with a kill that made it 1-1 but UC San Diego won the next four points. The Tritons used a 5-0 run midway through the set to take control and lead 19-10.
Set 2: After trailing by eight early, the Flashes scored five straight to get within 11-8 and force timeout to be called. The Tritons quickly pushed it back to a seven-point lead, where it hovered for the rest of the set.
Set 3: An efficient attack that posted 11 kills at a .333 clip allowed Kent State to take its first set of the season.
Set 4: Kent State carried momentum into the fourth and led by as many as four at 16-12. UC San Diego turned it around with a 12-3 run. The Flashes held off match point with a kill by McGuire and solo block by Sadie Wright before the Tritons finished it with a kill.
Match 2: Fresno State 3, Kent State 1 (14-25, 25-17, 16-25 19-25)
Kent State's 15 aces in the weekend finale were the most in more than a decade. Bryn Roberts matched her career-high with five and Karina Salinas added four. Roberts also led all players with 19 digs and had six assists to tie her career-high.
Mackenzie McGuire led the attack with 15 kills and 11 digs. Kendall White posted another double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs.
How it Happened…
Set 1: Fresno State used an efficient attack that totaled 16 kills while hitting .361 and recorded five blocks to take the opening set.
Set 2: Kent State used the service line to tie it up, totaling nine aces in the set. Bryn Roberts led the way with five, including four in a row to make it 21-12.
Set 3: The Flashes led 5-3 before the Bulldogs scored seven straight to go ahead for good. Fresno State turned the tables with five aces in the set.
Set 4: Kent State overcame a 4-0 deficit to open the fourth and led 15-12 after back-to-back aces by Karina Salinas. Fresno State went on a run to take the lead before McGuire tied it 18-18 with a kill. The Bulldogs won the next three points and seven of the next eight to close it out.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will travel to Iowa City next weekend with single matches scheduled for Friday, Sept. 1, Saturday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 3 as part of the FRYfest Invitational.
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