Sept. 11, 2007
Final Stats Photo Gallery
KENNESAW, Ga.--The Kennesaw State University volleyball squad came back from a late deficit to send the final game into extra points, but the rally fell short as the Owls dropped a 3-0 (30-21, 30-21, 32-30) decision to Presbyterian College Tuesday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
"Presbyterian played a solid match, but we missed a lot of great opportunities," said KSU head coach Valerie Jones. "We had too many unforced errors that we have to correct before we get into conference play."
The Owls (2-10) led in each game, but Presbyterian (7-4) would use early runs to take control of each of the first two games. The Black and Gold led 8-4 in game one, but after the Blue Hose rallied to tie the score at 10-all, a 7-1 run by Presbyterian enabled the visitors to earn a 30-21 win. In the second stanza, KSU scored the first two points but Presbyterian went on a 7-0 spurt to take a five-point advantage that would eventually end in a 30-21 victory for the visitors.
In the final frame, the Owls showed tremendous resiliency in rallying back to send the game into extra points. Following a timeout with the Owls down 20-14, the home team went on a 6-0 run to tie the game. After a Blue Hose service error gave KSU its first point in the run, Lindsey Plotner and Jenny Black connected for back-to-back kills to make it 20-17. Plotner and Tara Dillon teamed for a block to pull the Owls within a pair of points. Then, consecutive service aces by Asjia Stokes tied the score at 20-all and sent the 137 fans cheering on the Owls into a frenzy.
Presbyterian responded with a 7-1 run, but again the Owls would respond. After a Blue Hose setting error, back-to-back kills by Black made the score 27-24 for Presbyterian. The teams traded the next three points, giving Presbyterian match point at 29-26. The Owls would continue to fight, eventually tying the game. Plotner and Stokes combined for a block to draw KSU within two, then Stokes connected for her second kill of the game to make it 29-28. With the pressure mounting on the visitors, a service ace by Selina O'Leary made the score 29-all.
KSU would commit an attack error to give Presbyterian another game point chance. But Stokes would not allow Presbyterian to take advantage of the chance, connecting for a kill to tie the game again. But the magic would run out for the Owls, as back-to-back attack errors gave Presbyterian the 32-30 win in the game and a 3-0 win in the match.
The Owls had more kills than Presbyterian, with Kennesaw connecting for 42 to 38 for the visitors. KSU also had more assists (39-35) and more digs (51-47) than the visiting team as well.
Plotner led KSU with 11 kills, followed by Black's nine. O'Leary continued her solid play along the back row with a team-leading 14 digs.
Lauren Mason led Presbyterian with 13 kills. Elizabeth Heineman had a match-high 19 digs to pace the Blue Hose defense.
KSU will return to action this Friday when they face South Alabama at the South Alabama Invitational. Match time is set for 5:00 p.m.
