The Kent State volleyball team lost all of its three sets for the sixth time this season against the Youngstown State Penguins (25-20, 25-12, 25-13).
With the loss, Kent State has suffered its sixth consecutive loss and ninth loss overall on Friday. The Flashes have been swept for four matches in a row.
KSU is now 1-9 on the year.
YSU led the way on the statsheet, leading the game in most statistical categories. The Penguins had more kills (36-23) and assists (34-21) than the Flashes.
“We went in knowing that they were potentially gonna change some things, so we didn’t show the full scouting report,” coach Haley Eckerman said.
The Flashes played close with the Penguins during the first set, coming back down from 15-8 to tie it at 18. The Flashes were unable to hold on to this momentum, as the Penguins would embark on a 6-0 run and ultimately take the first set.
Holding on to momentum was a concern for the Flashes.
“(Wondering) do we think that we don’t deserve to win a game? “ Eckerman said.
The Flashes opened the second set with a 7-4 advantage before the Penguins went on two huge runs (a 6-0 run to make it 10-7 and 9-0 run to make it 21-10). The Flashes were unable to overcome the deficit and would drop the second set.
“We’re trying to find that balance of what information do they need and what information is going to make them overthink,” Eckerman said.
The third set was especially unkind to the Flashes. KSU was unable to gain any momentum and fell into a 20-7 hole early, losing the third and final set.
“We get down, and we really don’t know how to bounce back,” Eckerman said.
Junior outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire led the team with eight kills, with sophomore middle blocker Alexandria Connatser and senior outside hitter Karina Salinas both contributing four kills. Junior libero Greta Bolognini continued her streak of leading the team in digs with 11.
“We haven’t really showcased her (Connatser),” Eckerman said. “She’s a super smart kid and raw to the game.”
Errors were a glaring issue for the Flashes, with Kent State committing 25 errors to Youngstown State’s nine.
“If we can clean that up, we’ll be a really good team,” Eckerman said.
With the loss, the Flashes remain in last place in the Mid-American Conference.
The Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center Thursday and Friday to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles for a pair of games. This will be the first time the Flashes will take on a MAC opponent this season.
“It’s all about momentum,” Eckerman said. “So how do you create that space over and over again?”
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.
