Kent State University
3-4,0-0MAC
Niagara
0-4,0-0Metro
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 21 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Kent St. | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Kent State Volleyball Wins Pair at Laker Invitational on Friday
9/11/2026 10:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ERIE, Pa. – Kent State won both of its contests on Friday at the Laker Invitational, beating Niagara, 3-0, and then taking down host Mercyhurst, 3-2.
The Golden Flashes (4-4) were victorious in each of their first five sets of the day before being pushed to five sets by the Lakers.
Three attackers recorded at least 20 kills on the day. Senior Mercedez Brown led the way with 23, followed by 21 from redshirt junior Adalynn Ginley and 20 from sophomore Macie Moreland.
Offensively, senior Mercedez Brown recorded a team-high 21 kills. Junior Nadia Miller and redshirt junior Adalynn Ginley added 12 kills and 11 kills, respectively. Senior Christina Vigil totaled 70 assists. Juniors Lesley Furuta (32 digs) and Nadia Miller (6 blocks) led Kent State defensively.
Match 1: Kent State 3, Niagara 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20)
In an opening set that featured 12 ties and six lead changes, the Golden Flashes pulled away with a late 5-0 run.
Tough serving by Hailey Brenner helped Kent State begin the second with a 4-0 advantage. The lead never went below two points as the Flashes took a 2-0 lead.
A 6-0 run in the third set cut Kent State's deficit in half, but the comeback effort came up short.
Niagara recorded a block on the first point of the third set, but the Flashes scored the next four and never relinquished the lead. Adalynn Ginley was a force in the set with five kills on seven attempts.
Mercedez Brown finished with a match-high 12 kills and Ginley was right behind with 11. Christina Vigil totaled 33 assists, and Lesley Furuta led the team with 14 digs.
Match 2: Kent State 3, Mercyhurst 2 (25-15, 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 15-9)
The Flashes used a 13-3 run to take the opening set and then battled back from a four-point deficit to win the second to be in position for another sweep.
After trailing by eight in the third, Kent State was able to get within 24-23, but Mercyhurst was able to get a kill to extend the match.
The Flashes overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth and took a 19-18 lead on a kill by Adalynn Ginley. The Lakers had an answer and scored the next three points to start a 7-1 run that forced a decisive fifth set.
Another slow start in the fifth had Kent State facing a 7-5 deficit. Macie Moreland then came through in the clutch with three kills and a block assist as part of a 7-0 run. Mercyhurst took the next two points to get within three, but Ginley and Christina Vigil teamed on a block to swing momentum back in favor of the Flashes. Vanessa Imoh followed a kill and an attack error by the Lakers gave Kent State the victory.
Moreland led the offense with a season-high 14 kills. She was joined in double-figures by Mercedez Brown (11), Imoh (11) and Ginley (10). Brown added a career-high 17 digs for her second double-double of the season. Christina Vigil totaled 37 assists. Lesley Furuta led all players with 18 digs.
Up Next for the Flashes
Kent State will look to complete an unbeaten weekend on Saturday against Columbia. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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