The Kent State volleyball hits the road for the second weekend in a row, visiting Central Michigan for a 6 p.m. match on Friday and then heading to Eastern Michigan for a 4 p.m. battle on Saturday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN3.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, October 6
6 p.m. Kent State at Central Michigan
Saturday, October 7
4 p.m. Kent State at Eastern Michigan
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
The Golden Flashes (10-5, 1-3 MAC) split its matches at Miami last weekend and finished strong by taking five of the final seven sets.
The Flashes' depth has been on display during the opening month of the season, with five players totaling six MAC East Division Player of the Week awards. Graduate student Alex Haffner has won MAC East Division Setter of the Week twice with graduate student Erin Gardner (defensive), senior Gracey Jarecke (defensive), senior Savannah Matthews (offensive) and freshman Mackenzie McGuire (offensive) each earning a selection.
McGuire leads all MAC newcomers, and ranks third overall, with 3.44 kills per set. The 2021 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year has recorded double-digit kills in 11 matches, including back-to-back 24-kill performances against Murray State and Charleston Southern en route to MVP honors at the Marshall Invite. Matthews has been a productive six-rotation contributor with averages of 2.96 kills and 2.58 digs per set. The outside hitter is approaching the 1,000 milestone in both categories and enters the weekend with 994 kills and 971 digs during her four-year career as a Flash.
Tyson, Kent State's all-time hitting percentage leader (.312), is hitting at a .376 clip to rank fourth in the conference. The middle blocker ranks ninth with a team-best average of 0.93 blocks per set.
Haffner is averaging 9.44 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the MAC. She has totaled 1,063 digs in a Kent State uniform, passing Stephanie Doran the program's record by a setter during Saturday's win over the RedHawks.
Gardner leads the team with 3.65 digs per set and is averaging 5.07 digs per set over the past seven matches since returning to the libero position.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Central Michigan
The Chippewas (10-5, 3-1 MAC) opened conference play with an impressive two-match sweep of West Division preseason favorite Ball State and then split a pair at Toledo last weekend. Central Michigan's defense has been stellar, ranking second in the MAC in opponent hitting percentage (.174) and third in digs per set (16.24) and blocks per set (2.19).
Libero Aly Gurtiza averages 5.31 digs per set, which ranks 12th nationally. Middle blocker Maddie Whitfield is fourth in the conference with 1.10 blocks per set. Outside hitter Mallory Hernandez has been the go-to attacker and ranks fifth in the conference with 3.38 kills per set. Opposite/outside hitter Anna Erickson adds 2.52 kills per set.
Eastern Michigan
The Eagles (1-15, 0-4 MAC) have lost six in a row and dropped 12 of 13 sets in conference play. Eastern Michigan is last in the MAC in kills per set (10.75), assists per set (10.00) and digs per set (11.85).
Outside hitter/right side Samantha Basham leads the Eagles' offense with 2.38 kills per set. Middle blocker Raeven Chase is hitting at a .310 clip while averaging 2.20 kills and 0.98 blocks per set. Libero Emma McMahon leads the defense with 3.60 digs per set.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center next weekend for two Wagon Wheel Challenge matches against rival Akron on Oct. 14-15.
Original source can be found here.
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