Oct. 14, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery
KENNESAW, Ga.--Junior Chelsey Denesha had her second consecutive double-double as the Kennesaw State volleyball team fought valiantly but fell 3-1 (25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 29-27) to Mercer at the KSU Convocation Center in an Atlantic Sun Conference match.
The first set was tight as the Owls fought off three set points including twice on blocks by Callie Churchwell and Sabrita Gulley. But the Bears would get the clinching kill to take a 25-23 win in the opener.
Mercer (12-7, 7-4 A-Sun) used a 7-1 spurt to take the second set comfortably, 25-16, but the third set would be a different story. Trailing 14-13, the Black and Gold rolled off the next five points to take an 18-14 advantage. Mercer whittled away to cut the deficit to one at 21-20, but the Owls fought back to take the next three points and earn four set point chances. The Bears fought off the first three, but Gulley powered home an attack to give KSU the third set, 25-23.
The fourth set was the longest set of the year points-wise for the Owls. Trailing 7-2, the Owls went on a 9-2 run to take a two-point lead, 11-9. The teams would trade the lead back and forth for the duration of the set from that point on, with neither team getting a lead larger than three. With the score tied at 22-22, Asjia Stokes and Denesha each recorded kills to give KSU two set point chances. Mercer would fight both off, and after a kill by Karen Dorris, Mercer had match point, 25-24. Denesha kept KSU in it with a kill, extending the set onward. Dorris drove home another attack, but Gulley answered one point later to tie the set again. Denesha gave KSU a set point chance again with her 13th kill of the match, but the 26th and 27th kills of the match for Dorris gave Mercer match point again. This time, the Owls could not fend off the Bears as an attack error gave Mercer the set, 29-27, and the match, 3-1.
Gulley and Stokes each had 12 kills to supplement Denesha's 13 for the Owls (2-17, 1-10). Junior Selina O'Leary paced KSU's back-row defense with 14 digs, while Paris Leonce had 11 and Denesha chipped in 10.
Dorris led all players with 27 kills and 17 digs. No other Mercer attacker had more than eight kills. Amiee Frutchey had 13 digs, with Claire Tucker tallying 12.
The Owls will return to action this Friday in their second A-Sun match of the week against USC Upstate. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center.
