Unbeaten weekend provides confidence boost for stretch run

By Lauren Engleman
Junior, OH/OPP

Getting two victories this past weekend was great for the program because we’re that much closer to getting back to the MAC Tournament. Kent State hasn’t been able to do that in awhile, so we keep working toward our goal of #11.22.

Winning back-to-back 5-setters is rough on the body and mind. For us, it was a big confidence boost and also let us know that we can push through even when the odds are against us. We didn’t have the momentum in either match after losing that 4th set, but found a way to fight back and get the win.

Sweeping Akron was great for us, especially doing it for the first time since 2009. It’s always great to beat your rival, and I’m really glad we were able to get the win for our seniors.

Personally, I’ve played more the last few matches than I had been previously in conference. I’m so excited to help carry the team to a victory. The coaches gave me an opportunity at the end of our match against Western Michigan, and I was able get kills on all 4 of my attempts. That gave me the confidence to believe that I can help the team.

For these last 4 matches, we have to keep the momentum going in our favor. We need to keep pulling out wins in close sets like we have been and just keeping focusing a little more during those moments where we’re down. 

Wrapping up elementary school visits

As part of a community outreach initiative, members of the Kent State volleyball program have visited elementary schools in the Kent City School District throughout the Fall. Friday marked the fourth and final visit for the Golden Flashes, as members of the team went to Longcoy Elementary to spend time with the students at the school.

Freshmen Payton Moore and Drew Norberg were along for three of the four school visits and reflected back on those experiences.

Payton Moore

For the last trip, they were having their Halloween parties. I started off in a classroom and was at a station where they did this experiment to show density. You pour cornstarch, water and other different liquids and then you see them rise to the top.

Every time that we’ve gone and walked into a classroom, they would get all excited. Usually Liz was with us and they’re not used to seeing a girl that tall. Whenever it would be time to leave, you could tell they didn’t want us to go. Like today, they were on the playground and were screaming “Bye!” at us. I think it just makes their day.

I think the schools were really happy to have us there too. They all told us, “We always get the male athletes. We never get the females athletes here.” So I think interacting with the students was especially important for the girls that like playing sports since we can relate to them better than guys can.

Drew Norberg

I started off today working with a PE class. We stretched with them and overlooked the activities they were doing and got to talk to them a little bit. Then we want into some of the classrooms and read to them. We read Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss and asked them questions about it.

Overall, I think it’s been a really good experience visiting with the students. The teachers are trying to get them to realize that playing a college sport is something that they can do someday and that their education is really important, along with their physical activity. I think its’ good for them to meet actual college athletes and hear from us that they can do it as well.