Kent State University
Bowling Green
Volleyball Gets Homecoming Weekend Started with Pair of Matches Against BG
9/30/2026 12:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State volleyball opens Homecoming Weekend early with home matches at the M.A.C. Center against Bowling Green on Thursday and Friday. Both contests are scheduled for 6 p.m.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 1
6 p.m. Kent State vs. Bowling Green (ESPN+)
Friday, October 2
6 p.m. Kent State vs. Bowling Green (BoxCast)
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
The Golden Flashes (6-7, 0-2 MAC) fell to Akron and Buffalo during the opening week of Mid-American Conference play.
Senior Christina Vigil ranks fifth in the MAC with an average of 7.51 assists per set. Vigil is also versatile as a defender and averages 1.88 digs per set and 0.35 blocks per set.
Lesley Furuta is having a breakout junior campaign in the libero jersey. Furuta ranks sixth in the conference with an average of 3.90 digs per set, and her career-high 29 digs against UT Arlington on Sept. 4 are the most by any player in the conference this season. The Columbus, Ohio native has also excelled from behind the service line and sits leads the Flashes in total aces (16).
Senior Mercedez Brown has been the go-to attacker and leads the team with an average of 2.63 kills per set. Brown has recorded 10 or more kills in eight matches and has recorded a team-high four double-doubles.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons (10-3, 2-0 MAC) dropped just a single set during a two-match sweep of Miami to start conference play. Bowling Green owns a win over Ohio State and owns the No. 30 strength of schedule in the country.
Strong defense has been key to the Falcons' success, as they rank 12 nationally in blocks per set (2.83) and 31 in digs per set (.164). Middle blockers Helen Wilford (1.48 bps) and Cecily Waynar (1.23 bps) are the two top blockers in the MAC and rank in the top 100 in the country for blocks per set. Defensive specialist Sydnie Hernandez is fourth in the conference with 4.12 digs per set.
Outside hitters Anastasija Bozic (3.60) and Avery Hobson (3.33) rank among the top five in the conference in kills per set. Setter/right side Amanda Otten ranks fourth at 8.16 assists per set.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENT
Kent State has lost 11 straight in the series and owns a 24-67 all-time record against Bowling Green. This is the first time the teams will meet at the M.A.C. Center since the 2022 season.
UP NEXT FOR THE FLASHES
Kent State will play on road matches the next two weeks at Toledo (Oct. 8-9) and Central Michigan (Oct. 14-15).
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