MAC “Game of the Week” Against Ohio Highlights Volleyball’s Weekend
The Kent State volleyball team wraps up its four-match homestand this weekend with a pair of Mid-American Conference showdowns, welcoming Ohio to the M.A.C. Center 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 28) and Central Michigan 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 30). Kent State's tussle with the Bobcats is being featured as the MAC's Game of the Week live on All-MACcess.
The Golden Flashes (10-15, 3-7 MAC) are looking to put an end to a four-match losing streak after dropping a heartbreaker to Northern Illinois last Friday (Oct. 22), 3-2, and falling in a 3-0 sweep to Western Michigan the following day. Sophomore Meredith Paskert led the team with 34 kills -- including a career-high 24 against the Huskies.
The Bobcats (13-10, 5-5 MAC) currently sit second in the MAC East Division behind Akron. Ohio has lost two in a row and four of its last five matches, falling in a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Western Michigan last Friday and losing to Northern Illinois, 3-1, the next day.
The Chippewas (11-11, 5-5 MAC) have won four straight -- including a 3-1 triumph at Akron last Friday and a 3-0 sweep of Buffalo Saturday -- after dropping five of their first six conference matches
LAST TIME AGAINST OHIO
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
OHIO BOBCATSAll-Time Series: Ohio leads, 36-22. Head Coach: Ryan Theis 2010 Record: 13-10 (5-5 MAC), Second East 2009 Record: 27-7 (15-1 MAC), First East 2010 MAC Preseason Poll Predicted Finish: First East, Tournament Champions CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWASAll-Time Series: Central Michigan leads, 29-15-1. Last Season: The Chippewas swept Kent State, 3-0, on Oct. 31 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Head Coach: Erik Olson 2010 Record: 11-11 (5-5 MAC), Fifth West 2009 Record: 17-13 (8-8 MAC), Third West 2010 MAC Preseason Poll Predicted Finish: First West, Regular Season Champions |
Kent State lost its Mid-American Conference opening match in a 3-0 (13-25, 17-25, 15-25) sweep at the hands of East Division foe Ohio Sept. 23 at the Convocation Center.
Junior Liva Brivule (Riga, Latvia) led the Golden Flashes with 10 kills and four blocks (one solo, three assisted). Senior Lauren Jones (Kentwood, Mich.) tallied 17 set assists.
FIGHT TO THE FINISH
It's not how you start; it's how you finish. That certainly will be the case in the fight for the MAC East title in 2010.
The Golden Flashes essentially control their own destiny throughout the rest of the season, having to face their five division foes for the second time starting tonight against Ohio.
The Bobcats share the same conference record as Akron, which currently holds the tie-breaker for first place against Ohio after the Zips survived a 3-2 affair Sept. 23 at the Convocation Center. The two squads will meet again Nov. 6 in Akron.
The Flashes fell to both the Bobcats and Zips (3-2, Oct. 2 in Kent) in their first tour of the division, but winning out could give Kent State a chance to clinch its first division title in program history. The Golden Flashes took down division foes Buffalo, Bowling Green and Miami once so far this season. Kent State faces Akron and Buffalo again next weekend on the road before closing the regular season at home against Bowling Green and Miami in two weeks.
FANTASTIC FOUR
Senior Kristen Barr (Bowling Green, Ohio) posted eight digs to move past Carrie Patterson (1,115; 1996-99) for fourth place on the school's career records list last weekend against Northern Illinois, then added five more the next night against Western Michigan to up her total to 1,125. She has tallied 328 so far in 2010. Her career season-best total in digs is the 434 she tallied last year. Barr began 2010 with 797 digs in three seasons with the Golden Flashes, and has surpassed the likes of Nancy Winkler (956; 1988-90), Becky Neglia (963; 1995-98), Tarrin Pelton (966; 2000-03), Anne Butts (967; 2002-05), Stephanie Doran (1,062; 1998-01) and Carrie McEnery (1,068; 1997-00).
WHAT'S NEXT
The Golden Flashes take to the road for the final time in 2010, traveling to Akron next Friday (Nov. 5) and then heading to Buffalo Saturday (Nov. 6).
