The Kent State volleyball team moved to 1-17 after losing to the Miami University (OH) RedHawks (25-16, 26-24, 25-23, 29-27,15-9) and the Ball State Cardinals (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) with both games at home. The Flashes have lost 14 in a row.
Friday, the Flashes welcomed another struggling Mid-American Conference opponent to the M.A.C. Center, the RedHawks. The RedHawks carried a record of 6-12 heading into Friday’s match with KSU, and similarly to the Flashes, had not beaten a MAC opponent.
The Flashes were facing their sixth consecutive sweep against the RedHawks after dropping their first two sets. At one point in the third set, Miami led 17-14.
The Flashes would then stage a staggering comeback, with KSU going on an 11-6 run to claim the third set 25-23. Freshman middleback Nadia Miller would put the nail in the coffin on set three with a kill.
“Looking to each other and battling together is what we talk about in practice,” coach Haley Eckerman said.
KSU would hold on to that momentum in set four, battling the RedHawks until Miami would acquire a lead of 20-17. The Flashes would go on another big 7-2 run to capture a late lead at 24-22, and would seal the deal on another Miller kill.
In its two-set comeback, Eckerman would win three huge challenges.
“The girls thought they heard a touch and I said ‘Why not?’” Eckerman said. “The referee said I almost went four for four (on challenges).”
In the fifth and final set against the RedHawks, the Flashes would ultimately cool off. Miami would take advantage of three errors committed by KSU and escape the M.A.C. Center with a nail-biting 15-9 victory.
”We have to try and not go down as quickly as we do so we don’t have to fight and battle back as we do,” Eckerman said.
In its match against the RedHawks, Eckerman rolled out a lineup with no liberos, especially in close game situations.
“Towards the end, we put Greta (Bolognini) in because we needed that defensive point,” Eckerman said.
Senior right sider Anna Shoemake would lead the Flashes in kills Friday with 17 . Shoemake is fourth on the team in kills with 72.
Senior setter Kendall White posted an impressive stat line, with a whopping 47 assists,12 digs and six blocks.
Saturday, the Flashes would remain in Kent to welcome the Ball State Cardinals.
Heading into Saturday’s match with KSU, the Cardinals carried an 11-8 record and had won their previous contest against the Ohio Bobcats in five sets.
All three games were fought tightly, with the largest margin of victory against Ball State being five. The Cardinals were able to go on large runs against the Flashes on Saturday, and KSU worked hard to dig themselves out of the hole but were unable to take a set.
Junior outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire led the team with 11 kills. McGuire continues to be a dominant force on offense and has a team leading 135 kills, and posted 13 digs Saturday for a double-double.
Kendall White posted another 20+ assist day against Ball State, also contributing three blocks.
“I think we were able to spread the ball well when the pass was there,” Eckerman said. “Kendall connects with her hitters and continues to work on her connection.”
With the losses to Miami and Ball State, KSU sits at 1-17 on the year and has lost all home and conference opponent games. The Flashes are at the bottom of the MAC standings.
The Flashes will travel to Athens, Ohio, Tuesday to take on conference foe Ohio University. The Bobcats are 8-11 on the year and won their last game against the Miami RedHawks in four sets.
”I think we’re getting better,” Eckerman said.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X
