Kent State University
Ohio
Volleyball Readies for Trio of Road Matches During Second Week of #MACtion
9/25/2023 4:14:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State will play three road matches over four days as the second week of the Mid-American Conference season begins on Tuesday.
The Golden Flashes (4-9, 0-2 MAC) get started against Ohio and then are scheduled for matches at rival Akron on Thursday and Friday. All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
WEEK SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 26
7 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Ohio
Thursday, September 28
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Akron
Friday, September 29
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Akron
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
Kent State opened MAC play with losses to Buffalo, 3-0 and 3-2, this past weekend. The Golden Flashes found success with a 6-2 rotation and also frustrated the Bulls with tough serving on Saturday. Sophomore Mackenzie McGuire was a reliable attacker and totaled 33 kills, which was 12 more than any other player on either team.
McGuire leads the conference at 4.38 points per set and 4.03 kills per set. Middle blocker Kiana Mack (1.68ย kps) has a team-high 26 aces and increased her production as an attacker over her last six matches, averaging 1.93 kills per set with a .370 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kendall White orchestrates the offense and averages 7.53 assists per set.
Kent State ranks second the MAC at 15.34 digs per set. Senior Bryn Roberts has been in the libero jersey most of the season and is fifth in the conference in digs per set (4.20). White has also been impactful on defense and adds 2.79 digs per set. Graduate student Burgundy Walters has been the Flashes' top blocker and averages 0.93 blocks per set.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Ohio
The Bobcats (6-8, 1-1 MAC) split a pair of 3-1 contests against Akron to start conference play. Ohio has the No. 20 strength of schedule and has won just twice in its last eight matches.
Ohio is the only school in the conference with four players who have posted at least 100 kills this season. Middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell is sixth in the MAC with 3.41 kills per set and owns a .316 hitting percentage that ranks sixth. Opposite Anna Kharshynska (2.68 kps) and outside hitters Caroline Clippard (2.62 kps) and Kam Hunt (2.29 kps) have also contributed triple-digit kills. Libero Sam Steele is third in the MAC with 4.57 digs per set.
Akron
The Zips (6-7, 1-1 MAC) returns to James A. Rhodes Arena after splitting a pair of matches last week at Ohio. Akron ranks third in the nation with 126 aces, which is 27 more than any other team in the conference.
Outside hitter Faith Johnston's 3.50 kills per set sits fourth in the league. Johnston has posted double-figure kills in all 13 matches this season. Setter Eliska Vytiskova (34 aces) and libero Vanessa Del Real (28 aces) are among the top threats in the country from behind the service line, ranking second and 14th, respectively, in aces. Vytiskova averages 8.30 assists per set and Del Real leads the Zips with 4.09 digs per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 27-64 all-time against Ohio. The Golden Flashes have lost 11 of the last 12 meeting and eight in a row in Athens. Kent State's last victory at the Convocation Center was on Nov. 5, 2015.
The Golden Flashes own a 51-38 advantage in the rivalry with the Zips. Kent State has gone 16-4 over the past 20 matchups.
UP NEXT
Kent State will be home at the M.A.C. Center for the first four matches in October. The Flashes will host Western Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Northern Illinois on Friday, Oct. 6 to begin 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.
