Youngstown State University
9-3
Kent State
8-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State | 25 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
| Kent State | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
Kent State Outlasts YSU for Five-Set Win
9/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Kent State used a strong defense to withstand a balanced Youngstown State offensive attack and held on to beat the Penguins in five sets on Tuesday evening at the M.A.C Center. The set scores were 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12.
The Golden Flashes had 12 blocks, and they used their length in the middle to slow down many more attacks. Kent State also had 86 digs in the match as it improved to 8-2.
Youngstown State, which dropped to 9-3, had five players finish in double digits in kills. Lexi Egler had 13 kills, but the Golden Flashes forced her into 10 attack errors. Lauren Thompson had 12 kills on an efficient .393 hitting percentage, Sam Brown and Shannon Watson had 11 kills apiece, and Aly Ryan finished with 10. Nikki Thompson led all players with 26 digs, and Egler and Brown both registered double-doubles.
"I really think Kent State is the best defensive team we've played all year," YSU head coach Mark Hardaway said. "We didn't take care of the easy balls they gave us, and you can't afford to do that against a team that is that good defensively. I thought that was the difference in the match."
Kent State had an early 5-2 lead in the first set after a block of Egler, but the Penguins scored the next four points and led following back-to-back blocks by Egler and Ryan. The margin stayed within two until the Penguins went ahead 20-17 on a Lauren Thompson kill, and Kent State rallied to take the lead at 21-20. YSU scored five of the final seven points to win the set 25-23.
Kent State was the early leader again in the second set with a 6-3 advantage, and it scored five of the final six points to pull away late. The Golden Flashes led 20-16 before the Penguins scored back-to-back points out of a timeout. Back-to-back kills put Kent State back up by four, and the Golden Flashes scored the final three points to even the match.
Kent State scored five straight points to go up 5-1 in the third set, and Youngstown State got within one three times before catching the Golden Flashes at 10. The Penguins were never able to reclaim the lead, but they were able to stay within striking distance until Kent State pulled away at the end. A block by Ryan and Egler tied the score 17, but KSU scored the next three points en route to the 25-21 win.
Youngstown State built a 6-2 lead in the fourth set and held the upper hand until Kent State rallied late to go up 22-20. The Penguins scored five of the final six points to win 25-23.
The Golden Flashes scored three of the first four points in the final set, and the Penguins were forced to play catch up the rest of the way. YSU got within one twice, the final time at 9-8. Kent State scored the next three points to go up 12-8, and it held off the Penguins to win 15-12.
Lauren Engleman finished with a match-high 22 kills to lead the Golden Flashes.
Youngstown State will play three matches this weekend at the Michigan Invitational.
