Kent State University
2-5,0-0MAC
Purdue Fort Wayne
3-4,0-0Horizon
Flashes Win Two Friday to Start Western New York Invitational
9/8/2023 9:40:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. โ Kent State started action at the Western New York Invitational with wins over Purdue Fort Wayne, 3-1, and Canisius, 3-2, inside Koessler Athletic Center on Friday.
The Golden Flashes (3-5) played stellar defense and limited their opponents to a combined .147 hitting percentage. Senior Bryn Roberts led the defense with 45 digs, while sophomoresย Mackenzie McGuire (36 kills, 23 digs) andย Kendall White (83 assists, 31 digs) recorded double-doubles in both matches
Match 1: Kent State 3, Purdue Fort Wayne 1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24)
Mackenzie McGuire returned to action in a big way with 16 kills and 11 digs. Kendall White also had a double-double with 35 assists and career-high 18 digs. Burgundy Walters added a career-high eight kills and was one of three Kent State blockers to total four rejections. Bryn Roberts tallied 18 digs to share the team lead with White.
How it Happenedโฆ
ย ย ย Set 1 (25-20): Kent State fell behind 4-1 early before going on a 9-0 run, which included two aces by Bryn Roberts, midway through the set to take the lead. Purdue Fort Wayne got within 15-13 before ending its own momentum with a service error. Kiana Mack followed with an ace as part of a 5-0 run as the Golden Flashes extended the lead to as much as eight. Anna Shoemake closed the opening set with a kill.
ย ย ย Set 2 (17-25): Tied 15-15, the Mastodons scored seven in a row to pull away and even the match.
ย ย ย Set 3 (25-20): Down 12-10, McGuire posted back-to-back kills to spark an 8-0 run that put Kent State in control. The outside hitter totaled seven kills and a .462 hitting percentage in the set.
ย ย ย Set 4 (26-24): Kent State scored four straight points out of a timeout late in the set to take a 24-22 lead. Purdue Fort Wayne was able to fight off a pair of match-point opportunities to even the score, but the Flashes went back ahead on the next point when Kendall White surprised the defense with a setter dump off the ensuing service reception. McGuire then closed it out with a hard swing from the pin that the Mastodons were unable to handle.
Match 2: Kent State 3, Canisius 2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 15-6)
Kent State spoiled the Golden Griffins' home opener and improved to 2-1 in five-setters.
Mackenzie McGuire had a season-best 20 kills and added 12 digs. Anna Shoemake (12) and Kiana Mack (11) also had their most kills of the season while hitting .333 and totaling four blocks. Kendall White finished with a career-high 48 assists and added 13 digs.ย
Bryn Roberts led all players with 27 digs to match her season-high.
How it Happenedโฆ
ย ย ย Set 1 (22-25): Too many unforced errors, including six on attacks and two from behind the service line, allowed Canisius to steal the set despite only nine kills and a .091 hitting percentage.
ย ย ย Set 2 (25-23): Down 23-22 after losing four points in a row, Mackenzie McGuire delivered a key swing for a kill to prevent Kent State from facing set point and possible 2-0 deficit. Kiana Mack followed with an ace and Burgundy Walters added a kill for set point.
ย ย ย Set 3 (25-19): McGuire's third kill of the set put the Flashes ahead 20-19 and strong serving by Mack keyed a 6-0 run to win the set.ย
ย ย ย Set 4 (23-25): In a highly competitive set that had 12 ties and five lead changes, Kent State went ahead 23-22 on a Golden Griffins attack error. Canisius won the next three points to send the match to a fifth set.
ย ย ย Set 5 (15-6): Kent State lost the first three points before dominating the rest of the deciding set. The Flashes went ahead 5-4 on a kill by Anna Shoemake but the Golden Griffins answered with a kill to sideout. A kill by McGuire and solo stuff by Walters gave Kent State a two-point lead before Canisius got within 7-6 with a kill. Shoemake delivered a kill on the next point to prevent the host from tying it up and the Flashes closed on an 8-0 run behind a strong serving run by Bryn Roberts.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will seek an unbeaten weekend on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match at Niagara.
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