Ohio (8-15 overall, 6-5 MAC) is back in the Convocation Center to take on Kent State (8-14 overall, 3-8 MAC) for the second time this season in a crucial conference showdown.
The first time these two teams battled was in Kent earlier this month in a game where Ohio dominated the Golden Flashes 3-0 to get their first MAC win and break their long losing streak. Ever since that first game, Ohio has been one of the hottest teams in the MAC and Kent State has been sliding with a 1-5 record since.
Even with the teams heading in opposite directions, this is still ahuge matchup with MAC implications, so here is everything to know about Kent State.
Match Info:
Opponent: Kent State Golden Flashes
Location: The Convocation Center (Athens, Ohio)
Time: Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow live stats here
Ohio is 4-0 at home since its first meeting with Kent State, and aside from one close game with Eastern Michigan, Ohio has been dominant in those home games. On the other side of the matchup, the Golden Flashes have not been great on the road since their first matchup with Ohio, posting a 1-3 away record since that game.
The Bobcats are currently sitting comfortably in the MAC standings, where they are sixth with a 6-5 record. If they finish their last seven games with a decent record, they should easily be able to make the tournament. Unfortunately for Ohio, this is it’s last home game until the last two games of the season, so this is a very much-needed win for the Bobcats in order to make the playoffs.
There is still a lot of season left, but Ohio has caught a groove in MAC play and completely flipped the season around. This next game against Kent State is another opportunity to keep the momentum going.
Meanwhile, Kent State is in the exact opposite position as Ohio, as it is currently sitting in last place in the MAC with a 3-8 record. It’s technically not completely out of it for tournament contention, but it needs a miracle. Even if it wins out its last seven games, it still needs a lot of teams to lose a lot.
Recently, there hasn’t been one standout player for Ohio, but rather a very good team effort. In both of the Bobcats’ last two games, they have had eight players record a kill, including 11 players getting over seven kills in the two games combined.
From these teams' first matchup until now, there has been one thing consistent with Kent State: senior outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire. McGuire has still been dominating even through the rough patch. Offensively, she has racked up 307 kills, 3.84 kills per set and 16 assists. Defensively, she has 198 digs and 26 blocks.
She is Kent State’s best player by far. If Ohio wants to win this key match, it needs to shut her down, which is exactly what they did last time. In these two teams last matchup, McGuire only had six kills, one block and seven digs.
If they are able to keep her in check, Ohio should have a solid win on the dock to keep its momentum rolling toward the MAC tournament.
