Kent State University
1-3,0-0MAC
South Dakota State
1-3,0-0Summit League
Flashes Secure First Win against South Dakota State
9/1/2023 7:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CORALVILLE, Iowa – Kent State volleyball earned their first win of the 2023 season in a hard-fought, five-set match (25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10) against South Dakota State in the opening game of the FRYfest Invitational, hosted by Iowa, on Friday night.
The Golden Flashes improve to 1-3 on the season after a tough opening weekend last week in Indianapolis. Sophomore Kendall White just missed a triple-double and finished with 34 assists, 10 digs and nine kills. Senior Karina Salinas led the attack with a season-best 11 kills. Freshman Logan Henderson and redshirt senior Kiana Mack had eight kills each. Mack added a season-high eight blocks, including two solos, and career-high five aces.
Senior Bryn Roberts led the back row with a season-high 27 digs.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (25-23): Kent State fell behind early, trailing 14-6, but roared back thanks to three blocks by Kiana Mack. The Flashes went on an 8-1 run to get within striking distance before Anna Shoemake's first kill of the match tied it up at 19-19. After a South Dakota State timeout, the Flashes went on a 4-1 run to go up 24-21, and a kill from Mack on the third set-point opportunity gave the Flashes the opening set.
Set 2 (22-25): The Flashes jumped out to a 9-4 advantage, but the Jackrabbits went on a five-point swing to tie it up. After going up 19-15, a pair of aces led to another run from South Dakota State to even it up once more. After the Flashes tied it up at 22-22, the eighth time in the set that the score was level, the Jackrabbits scored three straight points to take the set.
Set 3 (25-21): The Flashes found themselves down 20-13 but ended the set on a 12-1 run. White tallied two aces and two kills in the run and Walters added a pair of important kills. Shoemake delivered the dagger with a kill of her own to secure the set.
Set 4 (20-25): The Flashes jumped out to an 11-7 lead, but the Jackrabbits went on an 11-1 run. Kent State cut the lead to two, 22-20, thanks to an ace from Salinas and a kill by Henderson, but South Dakota State won the final three points to fourth a fifth set.
Set 5 (15-10): Kent State lost the first three points of the set but stormed back to take a 7-4 lead. Henderson led the charge for the Flashes with four kills in the deciding set. Roberts and Lily King each tallied an ace as the Flashes extended their lead, and Salinas secured the Flashes' first win of the season with one of her own.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will face off against host Iowa in the second game of the FRYfest Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 2. First serve against the Hawkeyes is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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