Kent State University
Ohio
Volleyball Readies for Three Road Matches
10/21/2024 6:16:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State will play three road volleyball matches this week as the second half of Mid-American Conference season gets underway.
The Golden Flashes will visit Ohio on Tuesday night and then play at Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday. All three contests will be streamed on ESPN+.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Tuesday, October 22
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Ohio
Friday, October 25
6 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Bowling Green
Saturday, October 26
4 p.m. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Bowling Green
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
Kent State (1-17, 0-8 MAC) nearly pulled off a reverse sweep against Miami on Friday but dropped the fifth set, 15-9. The Golden Flashes totaled 19 blocks on the night, the best single-match performance since Sept. 12, 2009. Redshirt sophomore Alexandria Connatser led the way with a career-high 11 blocks, the most by a Kent State player since Sept. 12, 2014. Juniors Mackenzie McGuire (6) and Kendall White (6) and redshirt sophomore Liliana Mechura (5) also recorded a career-high for blocks.
White surpassed 1,000 career assists earlier this month ranks eighth in the conference in assists per set (7.15). White has posted eight double-doubles is second on the team in digs per set (2.57).
McGuire has increased her production since the start of conference play and leads the attack with an average of 2.70 kills per set. Senior Anna Shoemake, who hit .536 and had a career-high 17 kills against the RedHawks, adds 2.07 kills per set against MAC opponents.
Junior Greta Bolognini is the only Flash who has appeared in all 62 sets this season and leads the team in digs per set (3.52) and service aces (18).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Ohio
The Bobcats (8-11, 4-4 MAC) moved back to .500 in conference play with a 3-1 win over rival Miami on Saturday. Outside hitter Kam Hunt and opposite Anna Kharshynska are the most productive attacking duo in the MAC. Hunt is the conference leader at 3.93 kills per set and Kharshynska sits fourth at 3.49 kills per set. Libero Kendall Hickey ranks fifth in the MAC with 4.29 digs per set.
Bowling Green
One of three teams tied atop the MAC standings, the Falcons (12-8, 7-2 MAC) rank 27th nationally in blocks per set (2.64). Middle blockers Jessica Andrews (1.25 bps) and Alexis Mettille (1.15 bps) both ranks the top-5 of the conference in blocking. Mettille's .410 hitting percentage puts her at No. 20 on the national leaders list. Setter Amanda Otten ranks fourth in the MAC at 8.71 assists per set. Opposite Lauryn Hovey leads the attack with 2.97 kills per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 27-66 all-time against Ohio. The Golden Flashes have lost 12 of the last 13 meetings overall, and nine straight in Athens dating back to 2015.
The Golden Flashes are 24-64 all-time against Bowling Green and have lost eight straight in the series. The Golden Flashes are just 1-12 at the Stroh Center, which opened in 2011.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
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