Flashes Fall in Five at Miami

OXFORD, Ohio – Kent State fought back after dropping the first two sets of a Mid-American Conference volleyball matchup Friday night inside Millett Hall but lost to Miami, 3-2 (25-27, 9-25, 25-18, 25-22, 8-15).

The Golden Flashes (9-5, 0-3 MAC) are now 2-2 this season in five-setters. Freshman Mackenzie McGuire led the attack with 19 kills and was joined in double-digits by senior Taylor Heberle, who had 10. Graduate student Alex Haffner totaled 34 assists.

Graduate student Erin Gardner led all players with 22 digs and junior Bryn Roberts added 14 to match her season-best mark.

How it Happened…

     Set 1: Miami used a five-point run to take a 20-19 lead and remained ahead until a kill by Mackenzie McGuire and a RedHawks attack error gave Kent State a 24-23 advantage and first shot at set point. Following a sideout, Mia Soerensen delivered a kill to provide the Golden Flashes with a second set point opportunity. Miami’s Allyson Severance recorded kills on the next three points to give the first set to the hosts.

     Set 2: Kent State never led and was unable to score consecutive points as the RedHawks posted a .405 hitting percentage and closed with an 11-1 run.

     Set 3: After dropping the first point of the set, the Flashes won the next three and never relinquished the lead, which reached as many as nine at 21-12. Miami won the next four points to get within five, but Sadie Wright put an end to the comeback threat with a kill to start a 4-1 run to extend the match.

     Set 4: Down by four late, Danie Tyson got a 10-3 run started with a kill. Tyson added a block and two aces to help Kent State send it to a fifth set.

     Set 5: The Flashes scored the first two points but trailed 8-6 when the teams swapped sides of the court. A kill by Wright got Kent State within one, but Miami won the next four points and seven of the next eight overall to close it out.

Up Next for the Flashes

Kent State will seek a series split with Miami when the teams meet again at 5 p.m. Saturday.

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