Kent State University
1-3,0-0MAC
NJIT
1-5,0-0America East
Golden Flashes Sweep NJIT for First Volleyball Victory
9/6/2024 3:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Kent State volleyball team defeated NJIT, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-15), for the first victory of the 2024 campaign as play began at the Seton Hall Classic on Friday.
The Golden Flashes (1-3) posted a .314 team hitting percentage, as a trio of attackers had double-digit kills while hitting above a .300 slip. Sophomore Logan Henderson led the way with 12 kills and a .409 hitting percentage, while redshirt senior Karina Salinas and junior Mackenzie McGuire added 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively.
Junior Kendall White had her bet performance of the season and finished with 33 assists, seven digs, four kills and one block.
Kent State held the Highlanders to a .059 hitting percentage. Junior Greta Bolognini led the defense with 11 digs and posted season-highs with six assists and four aces.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (25-18): Kent State trailed by as many as three points before scoring seven in a row for a 12-7 lead. Tough serving by Greta Bolognini, including a pair of aces, helped the Golden Flashes take six in a row and push the lead to 19-9. NJIT was able to get within six, but kills by Breanna Burrell, Alexandria Connatser and Logan Henderson helped close it out. Karina Salinas was the offensive catalyst in the opening set with five kills on just eight swings and an ace.
Set 2 (25-17): NJIT opened with a 5-1 lead and took a four-point advantage again at 13-9, but Kent State was able to take the lead for good behind a 9-0 run. An attack error brought the run to an end but kills by Kendall White and Mackenzie McGuire gave the Flashes a 2-0 lead.
Set 3 (25-15): A service error to open the set gave the Highlanders their only lead, as Kent State used its best offensive set of the day to lead by as many as 10 points. The Flashes recorded 16 kills and only three errors on 30 attempts for a .433 hitting percentage. Seven different players contributed at least one kill, led by four from Henderson.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will resume action at the Seton Hall Classic on Saturday against Sacred Heart. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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