Kent State University
4-7,0-0MAC
Youngstown State
5-6,0-0Horizon
McGuire Posts Career Night in Home Opener
9/15/2023 8:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Sophomore Mackenzie McGuire had a monster performance with a career-high 28 kills and season-best .408 hitting percentage as Kent State opened the home schedule with a setback to Youngstown State, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 23-25, 21-25), inside of the M.A.C. Center on Friday.
Led by McGuire, who posted the most kills in a match by a Golden Flash since 2015, Kent State (4-7), finished with a season-high 61 kills compared to 50 for the Penguins. Redshirt senior Kiana Mack and freshman Logan Henderson added nine kills and seven kills, respectively. Mack posted a .304 hitting percentage for her fifth consecutive match above .300.
Sophomore Kendall White led the Flashes with 41 assists and 15 digs, while graduate student Burgundy Walters had six total blocks.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (25-18): Mackenzie McGuire started the match with back-to-back kills to set the tone as Kent State's attack overpowered its opponent in the opening set. The Golden Flashes totaled 20 kills and an efficient .486 hitting percentage to lead by as many as nine points. McGuire contributed 10 kills on just 12 swings.
Set 2 (24-26): Kent State was on the brink of going ahead 2-0 after McGuire's seventh kill of the set made it 24-22. The Flashes followed with a ballhandling error and consecutive attacks that landed outside of the tape before YSU tied it up with a block.
Set 3 (23-25): A kill by Karina Salinas put Kent State ahead 21-16, but the Penguins scored the next five points to even it up. Burgundy Walters found the floor for a big sideout and 22-21 lead. After YSU took a 23-22 lead, Walters delivered another kill. Kent State followed with an attack error and then allowed an ace on set point for the Penguins.
Set 4 (21-25): With it tied 13-13, YSU's front row came up with five blocks as part of a 10-5 run to gain separation before closing out the match.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will host Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 for FlaSHES Will weekend as Mid-American Conference action begins.
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