Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Jones spikes the ball past a Duquesne player Friday. Jones had 32 kills this weekend. Rachel Kilroy | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Junior setter Katie Veatch, left, stares down her opponent before a play begins on Friday night. Kent State played three matches over the weekend, defeating both Duquesne and Chicago State 3-0 but losing to Ohio State 3-0. Rachel Kilroy | Daily Kent State

Credit: DKS Editors

Senior Ashley Feutz dives to help keep the ball in play Friday against Duquesne. Feutz was named to the Kent State/Mizuno All-Tournament Team after recording 27 kills over the weekend. Rachel Kilroy | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Though the Kent State volleyball team ended its weekend with a 3-0 loss to Ohio State, the Flashes still found something to smile about after the match.

The Flashes were happy about the crowds that came out to support them during this weekend’s Kent State/Mizuno Open. At Saturday’s match against Ohio State, 1,284 people came out to watch, which easily surpassed any home crowd from last season.

“It was great to come home for our first weekend and see this many people come out to the games,” senior middle blovcker Krista Groce said. “I know I love having an atmosphere with all these people. It pumps us up, and we just drive off the crowd.”

Kent State coach Glen Conley said he was especially happy with the crowd that came out for Saturday’s match. Students, parents and young girl club volleyball players alike showed up to cheer on Kent State.

A constant buzz hung in the air as the Flashes and Buckeyes played, and the buzz turned to cheers when the Flashes scored a point or did something else positive.

“It was a hostile environment for Ohio State, and our crowd made it that way,” Conley said. “I feel like if we hadn’t made some mistakes that the crowd would have been able to push us through it.

“I can’t say enough about (the fans). I’d love to see crowds like this at our home matches, and we’re going to sure try to play well enough to deserve them.”

The promotion of Parents Weekend contributed to the large crowds this weekend, as the parents of each volleyball player came out to support their daughters. Kent State planned parent-focused activities for the weekend.

During the intermission of Friday’s match against Duquesne, the parents played a friendly volleyball game of their own. Even with the M.A.C. Center public-address announcer urging them on, the parents proved volleyball ability isn’t exactly genetic.

“I think the parents could have used a little practice,” said Janet Jones, the mother of sophomore outside hitter Lauren Jones. “But for what we had to work with, our limited time (and) limited skills, it was a lot of fun.”

The parents were also introduced alongside their daughters before Saturday’s match.

For most of the parents, this weekend marked their first time seeing the team this season. It was also the first time ever for some parents to see their daughters play for Kent State.

“It kind of was bonding for the new players coming on (and) the new parents,” Jones said. “So, it was really fun.”

Groce said while she was disappointed she missed the parents’ volleyball game because she heard it was “pretty entertaining,” she was happy to see all the parents.

“It was really fun to have all the parents out and just to see everybody,” she said. “It’s always fun to have all the parents come support us.”

Overall, the team was happy with the crowds this weekend, and Conley said he hopes to see the good crowds continue in the future.

“If we’re going to become a tier one program, which is what we want to do, the crowd has to be here,” he said. “And they are – they’re behind us, and I really think we can start to make volleyball at Kent State an atmosphere.”

Contact assistant sports editor Douglas Gulasy at [email protected].