The Flashes swept Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan three games to none for a victory Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.

In the first game the Flashes (9-7, 2-2 MAC) took a 5-0 lead, forcing the Chippewas (11-4, 2-2 MAC) to take an early timeout. Kent State kept Central back on its heels and maintained a safe lead throughout the game.

“We got out to an early lead,” Kent State coach Mora Kanim said. “All we needed to do was sustain it. It is very hard to come back from as far down as they were.”

The Flashes led by as many as 10 points. Much of their success was a result of keeping the ball in play and defending most of the Chippewas’attacks. The Flashes took game one 30-22.

Central Michigan came out for the second game looking much stronger and matched the Flashes point for point. The Flashes came out of a Chippewas timeout more aggressively and gained the momentum. They took a 26-21 lead, but Central Michigan was able to close the gap and get within two points.

The Flashes proved to be too much for the Chippewas and won 30-27.

Both teams played competitive in the game, not letting the other team to get too far ahead.

“Game two got tight,” Kanim said. “If they would have won game two, it could have gone either way. I thought we played well when we needed to.”

Early in game three, no team could take control.

With it tied at 14, the Flashes came alive and pushed the lead to 22-15. Kent State did not let Central Michigan get any closer and shut down the Chippewas’ offense in the game’s later stages. The Flashes closed out the match 30-20.

“I think that they struggled because we were up 2-0,” Kanim said. “I think they faded a little bit. I thought we focused well when we needed to. We got the important point when we needed to. It was a good day for Kent State Athletics today, the football team, volleyball, it was a nice place to be today.”

As a team Kent State had 49 kills, 131 total attacks, 52 digs and 13 blocks. Next weekend the Flashes are away against Toledo and Ball State.

Contact volleyball reporter Frank Schaefer at [email protected].