Kent State University
1-10,0-1MAC
Eastern Michigan
7-8,1-0MAC
McGuire Opens MAC Play with Big Night
9/26/2024 10:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio – Junior Mackenzie McGuire opened Mid-American Conference play with her best performance of the season as the Kent State volleyball team fell to visiting Eastern Michigan, 3-2 (25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25, 9-15), Thursday evening at the M.A.C. Center.
McGuire helped the Golden Flashes (1-10, 0-1 MAC) take a 2-0 lead in the match with 10 kills on 17 errorless attempts and finished the night with a season-high 19 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Sophomore Logan Henderson added senior Anna Shoemake added 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively.
Junior Kendall White recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs, while freshman Kaelynn Burge totaled 18 assists and eight digs.
Junior Greta Bolognini tallied 22 digs to lead the defense.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (25-15): Kent State overpowered its guest with an efficient attack, posting 14 kills and only two errors for a .480 hitting percentage. The defense was also stellar, holding EMU to five kills and a -.095 hitting percentage. Six serving errors prevented the margin from being much larger.
Set 2 (25-22): The Golden Flashes' nine-point lead was erased as the Eagles battled to even it at 18-18. Liliana Mechura delivered a big kill to stop the run, but EMU tied it again on the next point. Mechura's fifth kill of the set was followed by two from McGuire. EMU got within a point twice, but Mackenzie McGuire's seventh kill in the set and a solo block by Alexandria Connatser closed it out.
Set 3 (21-25): Facing the largest deficit of the night to that point, Kent State scored four straight to take a 17-16 lead and regain momentum. McGuire put the Flashes ahead 21-20 with a kill, but the Eagles won six of the next seven points to extend the match.
Set 4 (17-25): Kent State seemed poised for a win after taking the first four points in the fourth set and eventually led 6-1. EMU gradually got closer and went ahead 16-14 before pulling away with a 7-0 run.
Set 5 (9-15): Kills by Mechura and McGuire and an ace from Karina Salinas gave the Flashes a 3-0 lead in the shortened final set. The Eagles scored the next three points to tie it, but Kent State prevented its guest from going ahead and led 8-7 when the teams switched sides of the court. EMU won the next two points to go ahead before Salinas tied it with a kill. The Eagles answered with a 6-0 run to finish a reverse sweep.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will look to earn a series split with Eastern Michigan on Friday night as the opening week of the conference season concludes. First serve at the M.A.C. Center is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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