Kent State University
0-2,0-0MAC
Michigan
2-0,0-0Big Ten
Host Michigan Takes Pair from Flashes on Sunday
9/1/2024 7:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Kent State volleyball team earned its first set victory of the season but fell twice to host Michigan by scores of 3-0 and 3-1 on Sunday as opening weekend concluded at the Michigan Nike Classic.
The Golden Flashes are now 0-3 on the season despite stellar defensive play against the Wolverines. Junior Greta Bolognini, freshman Hailey Brenner and junior Kendall White all tallied double-digit digs over the two matches. Bolognini recorded double-figures in both contests and finished with a team-high 23 digs. Brenner and White added 14 and 13 digs, respectively. Seven different players contributed to the team's 15 blocks. Junior Mackenzie McGuire and redshirt sophomore Alexandria Connatser had five each to share the team lead. McGuire was also Kent State's top attacker with 11 kills.
Match 1: Michigan 3, Kent State 0 (24-26, 16-25, 17-25)
After dropping the first set despite leading by as many as six, Kent State struggled with ball control and was unable to find any offensive rhythm over the next two sets.
Mackenzie McGuire (6 kills) and Chelsea Harvey (12 assists) led offensively, while Greta Bolognini (12 digs), Hailey Brenner (11 digs) and Liliana Mechura (3 blocks) were the defensive leaders.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (24-26): Tough serving from Hailey Brenner helped the Golden Flashes start the match ahead 5-0. The lead reached six on four occasions, but Michigan chipped away and took its first lead of the match at 16-15. Three consecutive attack errors by the Wolverines put Kent State back ahead before a run by the hosts made it 24-21. A service error helped the Flashes stay alive, and Liliana Mechura and Anna Shoemake teamed for a block at the pin to get within a point. An attack error by Michigan tied it, but the Wolverines followed with kills on the next two points to take the opening set
Set 2 (16-25): Michigan scored seven in a row midway through the set to pull away and closed with a 14-6 run overall. The Wolverines only hit .200 but totaled 10 points on aces and blocks.
Set 3 (17-25): Both teams struggled to score efficiently, but it was eight unforced attack errors by Kent State that allowed the host to take the first match in straight sets.
Match 2: Michigan 3, Kent State 1 (18-25, 25-12, 22-25 14-25)
With four new starters, Kent State gave Michigan all it could handle for the first three sets of the nightcap. Kendall White recorded her first double-double of the season with 24 assists and 12 digs. Karina Salinas (8 kills), Logan Henderson (6 kills) and Nadia Miller (6 kills) each had their most productive attacking performance of the season.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (18-25): Kent State led 11-10 in a highly-competitive start that included 10 ties and four lead changes. Michigan scored the next four points and closed with a 15-7 run as the offense totaled 21 kills and a .353 hitting percentage in the set.
Set 2 (25-12): The Flashes won their first set of the season in dominant fashion, which began with a 3-0 led on kills by Logan Henderson and Karina Salinas, followed by a block from Henderson and Alexandria Connatser. Following two points for the Wolverines, Kent State went on a 5-0 run and never allowed the lead to get below three. The Flashes only needed eight kills in the set, as they recorded six aces and five blocks. Nadia Miller contributed in both areas with two aces and two blocks.
Set 3 (22-25): Four kills by Mackenzie McGuire helped Kent State build a 12-6 lead. The Flashes only had four kills as a team the rest of the set, as Michigan rallied to go ahead 2-1 in the match.
Set 4 (14-25): Karina Salinas gave the Flashes a 6-5 lead with an ace, but Michigan responded with a 5-0 run. After a service error, the Wolverines went on another 5-0 run to take control. Kent State fought to the final point and refused to give up facing a 24-11 deficit. After a Michigan attack error, Miller found the floor with swings on the next two points, but the Wolverines delivered a kill to thwart the comeback effort.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State travels to the Seton Hall Classic next weekend (Sept. 6-8) for contests against NJIT, Sacred Heart and the host Pirates.
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