The Kent State Golden Flashes volleyball team will continue Mid-American Conference play this week as it takes on the Ohio University Bobcats at 7 p.m. in Athens.

The Flashes will be competing in its third consecutive road conference match. The Flashes will finally return home as they take on the Central Michigan Chippewas at 7 p.m. Saturday in the M.A.C. Center, marking the first home conference game at the M.A.C. for the 2012 campaign

The team will enter Thursdays match against the Bobcats with an overall record of 4-10 and a 1-1 conference record. Last week, the Flashes kicked off conference play with a five set victory over the Miami Red Hawks Thursday night. Two days later, the Flashes traveled to the Bowling Green Falcons and dropped a match in straight sets.

The Bobcats are going into the match-up with an overall record of 6-8 and a conference record of 1-1. Along with the Flashes, Ohio kicked off its conference schedule with two matches against Bowling Green and Miami. Just like the Flashes, the Bobcats were defeated in their match against Bowling Green, and they picked up the win against Miami.

“I’d say their biggest strength is they’re a well-balanced team,” head coach Don Gromala said about the Ohio Bobcats. “They are solid at every position and can score points and defend well. We need to take advantage of any free chances to run our offense in system. Our pin hitters need to step up and get more kills as well.”

The Chippewas will go into the week with an overall record of 7-6 and a conference record of 1-1. Before their Saturday match against Kent State, Central Michigan will host the Eastern Michigan Eagles.

Gromala said he wasn’t able to comment on the second opponent of the week because the team is concentrating on the match against the Bobcats.

“We focus on one team at a time,” Gromala said.

Contact Drew Jones at [email protected].