Kent State University
1-4,0-0MAC
Sacred Heart
3-2,0-0MAAC
Comeback Falls Short in Five-Setter Against Sacred Heart
9/7/2024 7:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Kent State was unable to record a reverse sweep on Saturday and fell to Sacred Heart, 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 33-31, 28-26, 8-15), in a matchup at the Seton Hall Classic.
The Golden Flashes (1-4) showed grit to fight off five match point opportunities in the third set four more in the fourth.
Junior Kendall White finished with a career-high 54 assists. The attack was led by sophomore Logan Henderson, who had 12 kills for the second day in a row. Henderson also recorded a career-high six blocks (two solo, four assists). Graduate student Breanna Burrell and redshirt sophomore Liliana Mechura added 10 kills each.
Greta Bolognini tallied a season-high 26 digs to lead the defense.
How it Happened…
Set 1 (22-25): A strong start gave Kent State a 4-0 lead, and the lead was still four after a solo stuff by Logan Henderson made it 21-17. Allison Murray then recorded a kill on four consecutive points to help Sacred Heart win eight of the next nine points and steal the opening set.
Set 2 (23-25): The Golden Flashes erased an early three-point deficit and went ahead 11-9 on a kill by Breanna Burrell. The Pioneers rallied to go ahead by as many as four points and eventually led 24-21. Liliana Mechura and Kendall White teamed for a block on the ensuing point, and Sacred Heart followed with an attack error to make it 24-23. A Pioneers kills followed to secure the set.
Set 3 (33-31): Kent State controlled early in the third set and built a 16-11 lead. Sacred Heart rallied and was able to go ahead 24-23. A kill by Henderson extended the set as the teams traded the next seven points. Following a service error that gave the Flashes a 32-31 lead, Karina Salinas sent a shot off the block and to the floor to finish the set.
Set 4 (28-26): An ace gave Sacred Heart a 24-20 lead, but an error on the next serve helped swing momentum as Kent State scored the next five to lead 25-24. The Flashes went on to take the set and force a fifth for the first time this season.
Set 5 (8-15): The Pioneers opened 5-0 and led by as many as eight, as they posted a .429 team hitting percentage to secure the victory.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will attempt to secure a winning weekend against host Seton Hall on Sunday. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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