The Kent State volleyball team (4-18 overall, 2-9 Mid-American Conference) fell in straight sets to Buffalo (14-8, 7-4 MAC) Friday night (23-25, 26-28, 25-27).

“I think we fought back pretty well,” coach Don Gromala said. “They had some good leads in the second set that we came back on. Kelsey (Bittinger) played a really smart match and that kept us in in the end. We just needed some more production besides just her.”

Senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger led the team with 13 kills, paired with nine digs. Junior outside hitter Lexi Mantas fell right behind Bittinger with 10 kills and 10 digs.

Bittinger said the team has definitely shown a lot of growth.

“I think we showed how much better we can get within a match,” Bittinger said. “We were really there to fight at the end of that last match.”

The Flashes fell behind in digs and kills. Buffalo ended the match with 59 kills and 73 digs, and advantage over Kent State’s 36 kills and 46 digs.

The Flashes will welcome the Akron Zips at 5 p.m. Saturday in the M.A.C. Center. 

Taylor Sforzo is a sports reporter. Contact her at [email protected].