<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3l2O8L_0vmJVReT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3l2O8L_0vmJVReT00" width="800" height="450" >KENT, Ohio – Junior Mackenzie McGuire opened Mid-American Conference play with her best performance of the season as the Kent State volleyball team fell to visiting Eastern Michigan, 3-2 (25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25, 9-15), Thursday evening at the M.A.C. Center.McGuire helped the Golden Flashes (1-10, 0-1 MAC) take a 2-0 lead in the match with 10 kills on 17 errorless attempts and finished the night with a season-high 19 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Sophomore Logan Henderson added senior Anna Shoemake added 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively.Junior Kendall White recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs, while freshman Kaelynn Burge totaled 18 assists and eight digs.Junior Greta Bolognini tallied 22 digs to lead the defense.How it Happened…Set 1 (25-15):Kent State overpowered its guest with an efficient attack, posting 14 kills and only two errors for a .480 hitting percentage. The defense was also stellar, holding EMU to five kills and a -.095 hitting percentage. Six serving errors prevented the margin from being much larger.Set 2 (25-22): The Golden Flashes' nine-point lead was erased as the Eagles battled to even it at 18-18. Liliana Mechura delivered a big kill to stop the run, but EMU tied it again on the next point. Mechura's fifth kill of the set was followed by two from McGuire. EMU got within a point twice, but Mackenzie McGuire's seventh kill in the set and a solo block by Alexandria Connatser closed it out.Set 3 (21-25): Facing the largest deficit of the night to that point, Kent State scored four straight to take a 17-16 lead and regain momentum. McGuire put the Flashes ahead 21-20 with a kill, but the Eagles won six of the next seven points to extend the match.Set 4 (17-25): Kent State seemed poised for a win after taking the first four points in the fourth set and eventually led 6-1. EMU gradually got closer and went ahead 16-14 before pulling away with a 7-0 run.Set 5 (9-15): Kills by Mechura and McGuire and an ace from Karina Salinas gave the Flashes a 3-0 lead in the shortened final set. The Eagles scored the next three points to tie it, but Kent State prevented its guest from going ahead and led 8-7 when the teams switched sides of the court. EMU won the next two points to go ahead before Salinas tied it with a kill. The Eagles answered with a 6-0 run to finish a reverse sweep.Up Next for the FlashesKent State will look to earn a series split with Eastern Michigan on Friday night as the opening week of the conference season concludes. First serve at the M.A.C. Center is scheduled for 6 p.m.Follow the FlashesBe sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.</div></body>

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McGuire Opens MAC Play with Big Night

KENT, Ohio – Junior Mackenzie McGuire opened Mid-American Conference play with her best performance of the season as the Kent State volleyball team fell to visiting Eastern Michigan, 3-2 (25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25, 9-15), Thursday evening at the M.A.C. Center. McGuire helped the Golden Flashes (1-10, 0-1 MAC) take...