In its final road trip of the 2024 season, the Kent State volleyball team was swept twice by the Central Michigan Chippewas in a two-game weekend slate. The Flashes are now 2-24 on the year, and with the two losses to CMU, cemented an 0-15 record on the road for the year.
On Friday, the Flashes headed to Mount Pleasant to take on a Central Michigan team that has taken care of business since the season started all the way back in August in a five-set win against Lindenwood. Heading into Friday’s match against the Flashes, the Chippewas held a record of 20-6 and an 11-3 record against Mid-American Conference opponents.
The Flashes were absolutely routed by the Chippewas in set one, as CMU had scored 20 points before KSU had gotten to nine. The Flashes would ultimately lose set one on a block error from senior right sider Anna Shoemake, 25-11.
Set two saw the Flashes play more competitively than set one, but a season-long issue of KSU being prone to falling into holes returned against CMU. Although set two saw the Flashes go on 6-1 and 5-0 runs at different points in the set, big runs the Chippewas went on early in the set ultimately propelled Central Michigan to a 25-18 set two win.
In set three, the Flashes would continue to improve on its issues from the prior sets such as scoring earlier in the game (KSU opened the set 11-8) and pushed CMU farther than it expected, but the Chippewas would pull away in a close 25-20 victory. Once Central Michigan hit the 20th point, it did not look back, outscoring the Flashes 3-2 before the target score was reached.
Junior outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire put forth another stellar offensive performance, leading the Flashes with 14 kills. McGuire leads the team with 242 kills.
Freshman libero Lesley Furuta put up a career-high with a team-leading 14 digs Friday.
The Flashes would do battle one last time this season with the Central Michigan Chippewas Saturday. The game would be KSU’s final road game of the season.
Set one of the weekend’s second game was a lot more competitive than the first. Although the Flashes would open the set in a 5-0 deficit, KSU would battle to lose within seven in a 25-18 defeat.
Set two was more of the same as the Flashes stumbled to a 10-8 deficit in the opening minutes of the set. KSU would battle back to lose the set closely 25-19 but were generally outscored 2-1 in the crucial moments of the set.
The Flashes lost all road games in 2024, and it was more of the same in set three. Although the team has performed poorly, it has been consistent as it once again lost narrowly, but could not break through the teens in terms of scoring, losing 25-17.
Shoemake led the team in kills with 10. Shoemake is second in kills on the Flashes with 122.
Junior setter Kendall White put up another double-double on the season with 24 assists and 14 digs. White is first on KSU with 592 assists and second in digs with 214.
With the two losses to CMU, the Flashes remain at the bottom of the MAC standings with a 1-15 conference play record. They are tied with the Northern Illinois Huskies for last place.
The Flashes will travel back to the M.A.C. Center Nov. 15 for the first of a two-game set with the Toledo Rockets. The Rockets are 15-13 on the year (8-8 conference record) and are currently on a five-game losing streak that dates back to Nov. 1 in a loss against Western Michigan.
The two games against Toledo are the final games of the season for Kent State.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X
