The Kent State volleyball team swept their home tournament this weekend after battling Butler today.

After taking an aggressive lead to win 25-15 in the first set, the Flashes fell in the following two, 18-25 and 19-25.

“Butler is a very, very good team,” Kent State coach Glen Conley said. “They responded. Butler made some very good adjustments and it took us a while to pick up on those adjustments.”

Kent State resurfaced in the fourth set, winning 25-19, and fought out a close fifth set, claiming the match 15-13. The Flashes focused on triple blocking and serving tough to sweep the tournament.

“We try to have intensity right from the start,” junior outside hitter Lauren Jones said. “Sometimes we get away from it, but we try to stay focused and positive.”

Jones, along with senior outside hitter Arjola Prenga and freshman outside hitter Meredith Paskert, was named to the all-tournament team.

Last night the Flashes opened the tournament by defeating Robert Morris in three sets and Utah State in five.

The Flashes fought out all five sets against Utah State with close rallies. After losing the first two sets 21-25 and 16-25, the Flashes came back to seize victory.

Kent State capitalized on its blocking and kills to capture the last three sets, 25-22, 25-16 and 15-11.

“We knew we had to get hands up in their face,” Kent State coach Glen Conley said last night. “Because they are too good of a team to let them take us on the net.”

Junior middle blocker Ceila Sabo led the team with 19 blocks against Utah.

“The first two games we weren’t blocking very well,” Sabo said. “And then between the second and third game we completely changed what we were doing. Utah State couldn’t handle it.”

Senior outside hitter Arjola Prenga led the Flashes with 27 kills over the five sets against Utah, while freshman outside hitter Meredith Paskert followed with 15.

Kent State will next face Ohio on Thursday at 7 p.m.