Oct. 11, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--Redshirt sophomore Sabrita Gulley and junior Chelsey Denesha each had double-doubles but the Kennesaw State volleyball team dropped a tight, 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21) decision to Lipscomb on Saturday evening at the KSU Convocation Center in an Atlantic Sun Conference match.
"This was a match where if one or two things go our way, we could have come out on top," said KSU head coach Valerie Jones. "Even though we didn't win either match this weekend, we have proven that we can play with any team on our schedule from here on out."
The Owls led throughout the first set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead after a kill by freshman Callie Churchwell. Lipscomb pulled within a point at 13-12, but a 4-0 run spurred on by a Denesha kill pushed the lead back up to five. The lead was cut to one again at 20-19, but the teams traded points for the rest of the opening set. When Gulley's 13th attack of the first set landed for her sixth kill of the match, the Owls had taken the first set 25-23.
The Owls jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second set on the serve of Denesha. KSU would hold the lead for almost the entire set. After an attack error by the Owls made the score 23-22 for the visitors, the Owls would fight back to tie at 23-all on a Denesha block. But Lipscomb would earn the next two points to take the set, 25-23.
Twice in the third set, the Owls had set point taken off the board. In a set that featured 12 ties and five lead changes, the Owls took the lead 23-22 off a Churchwell block. A Lipscomb kill tied the score at 23-23. Then the controversy began. A violation was called against the Bisons to put KSU ahead 24-23, but after the officials conferred, the call was reversed and a replay was awarded. The next serve by Lipscomb was called long by the line judge, but the call was overruled by the lead referee, resulting in a service ace and giving Lipscomb a 24-23 lead. One point later, Lipscomb put home a kill to steal the third set, 25-23.
The Owls trailed early in the fourth set but rallied back to take an 11-10 lead after back-to-back kills by Denesha and Churchwell. The set stayed close, with the Owls falling behind again but rallying to tie at 19-all on consecutive kills for Gulley. But it was not to be this time for the Owls, as Lipscomb won six of the last eight points to take the set, 25-21.
Both teams had 54 kills but the Owls had a higher attack percentage with .184 to .172 for the Bisons. KSU had 10 more digs and one more assists than Lipscomb, but KSU's 11 service aces compared to just four for Lipscomb proved to be enough of a difference.
Gulley had 18 kills and 12 digs while Denesha had 11 kills and 15 digs. Alex Kelly of Lipscomb also joined the double-double parade with 18 kills and 11 digs.
Junior Selina O'Leary had 16 digs to lead Kennesaw State, with Lipscomb's Jessica Turner taking match-high honors with 20.
The Owls will be back in action this Tuesday night when they start the second half of the A-Sun's double round robin schedule against Mercer. Match time at the KSU Convocation Center is set for 7:00 p.m.
