Oct. 10, 2008
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KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State volleyball team nearly pulled off the biggest upset in its short history on Friday evening as it pressed Belmont to a deciding fifth set before falling to the Bruins (25-19, 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 15-9) at the KSU Convocation Center in an Atlantic Sun Conference match.
In what was looking to be a three-set loss for the Owls (2-15, 1-8 A-Sun) after they dropped the first two sets of the match, the Black and Gold were reinvigorated after the break and pushed the Bruins (13-5, 7-2 A-Sun) to a deciding fifth set for just the second time this season.
After twice building a five-point lead in the third set, Kennesaw State saw Belmont go on an 8-2 run to take a, 22-21, lead. However, the Owls would storm back with four straight points to take the set and seemingly stun the Bruins.
Chelsey Denesha, who had a team-high 14 kills, tied the set with a kill. Denesha would team up with Asjia Stokes one point for a block that gave the Owls a 23-22 lead. A kill by Stokes, one of seven in the match, pushed the lead to 24-22 before KSU took the set on an attack error by Belmont.
The fourth set was another wild affair as the Owls and the Bruins played through 17 ties and six lead changes. After KSU scored the first three points of the set, no team would have more than a two-point advantage the remainder of the set.
Again the Owls would be trail, 22-21, before storming back behind the support a raucous crowd. After a ball handling error tied the set, Paris Leonce's kill and an attack error by the Bruins gave KSU a 24-22 advantage. A kill by Belmont made the score 24-23 before the Owls put away the visitors to even the match.
In the deciding fifth set, the Owls would score the first point and led twice before Belmont took a 6-5 lead. Cat Mundy, who had a match-high 18 kills, and Jenny Gray had back-to-back kills to increase Belmont's lead before Sabrita Gulley momentarily stopped the Bruins rally with a kill. However, Belmont would score the next four points and go on to take the fifth set, 15-9.
Ginny Frederick had 20 assists in the match while Rachael Albright added 18. Callie Churchwell joined Denesha and Stokes with three total blocks.
Kennesaw State will be back in action on Saturday evening, when it hosts the Bisons of Lipscomb at 5:00 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center.
