Kent State’s volleyball team (6-18, 2-11) took on Ball State (14-10, 11-2) in Indiana and the University of Toledo (10-14, 8-5) in Toledo.
On Friday, in the first set, the Cardinals took a 16-6 lead to get the match started.
As the Flashes worked away at the lead and went on a 4-2 run to make it 18-10, it looked like Kent State would be able to bring it back. Unfortunately, the run was not enough to slow down BSU, as they took the first set 25-13.
In the second set in Indiana, Ball State continued with their momentum and got out to an early 9-4 lead.
Each time KSU would begin to work their way back, BSU would immediately reply. The Cardinals were at one point up ten, with the score being 18-8.
The Flashes would fall short for the second set in a row, and Ball State would win the second set with a score of 25-14.
To begin the third set, Kent State would take their first lead of the match up 2-1. The lead would not last long, as BSU would go on a 10-3 run to make the score 11-5.
As both teams continued to go back and forth with points, Ball State would end up gaining momentum and would go on a 7-2 run to increase the score to 21-11.
Although the Flashes would go on a four-point run of their own, the Cardinals remained ahead and took the set with a score of 25-15 and would sweep the match on sets 3-0.
Sophomore setter Kendall White and freshman setter Lily King both lead KSU with 11 assists in the match.
Sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire and freshman outside hitter Logan Henderson would both combine for 18 kills for the Flashes in the match.
“I think continuing to have them do what they’re doing will help others have better numbers also,” Coach Haley Eckerman said.
Saturday
Going into Saturday’s matchup, Eckerman also talked about the confidence within the team.
“One of the things that we talked about on Friday night after the match was going in and proving how good we could be,” she said.
During the first set against Toledo on Saturday, both teams were tied at 7-7 early on.
The Rockets would go on a 5-1 run to make the score 12-8, but this did not slow down the Flashes.
KSU took off and went on a 10-2 run to make the score 18-14 and would continue to apply pressure to UT. The Flashes would close out the first set on a 7-5 swing to win 25-19.
As set two got underway, both teams would go on small runs of their own, with both teams tied at eight a piece.
Both teams would remain close for most of the set, with Toledo being up 15-11 at one point.
As UT and KSU battled back and forth, UT would go up 21-18. Right after this, the Flashes would take the lead themselves after going on a 5-0 run.
Kent State remained on top throughout the set and would go on to win 25-23.
Set three was balanced between both sides, as UT and KSU were within four points of one another the entire set.
Unfortunately for the Flashes, the Rockets went on to win the third set 25-23 after going on a 5-3 run.
In the fourth and final set, again, both teams were neck and neck, with the game tied at 11 apiece.
Both sides remained close together the entire set, with the biggest lead being two.
The Flashes would go on to beat the Rockets 25-23 and took the match 3-1 in four sets.
Senior outside hitter Karina Salinas led both teams in aces with three, White led both teams in blocks with five, and senior libero Bryn Roberts led both teams in digs with 24.
Coming Up
With this win, KSU snaps a four-game losing streak, going into a matchup with Central Michigan (12-15, 6-7) on Friday and Saturday at the M.A.C.C.
“What we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks is really trying to focus on ourselves and letting teams do what they’re going to do,” Eckerman said. “We are trying to take care of the things that we can control.”
Ethan Madden is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
