Nov. 7, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--Sophomore Paris Leonce had a match-high 18 digs, but the Kennesaw State volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-16) to Jacksonville University on Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center in an Atlantic Sun Conference match.
The first set was the most competitive of the match with 13 ties and six lead changes between the two teams. With the score tied at 18-all, Jacksonville scored five consecutive points on serve to take a 23-18 lead. The Owls were able to cut the deficit to 23-21, but the Dolphins scored the final two points of the set to take the lead in the match.
In the second set, the Owls scored the first point but Jacksonville took the next five to take a 5-1 lead. The deficit would soon be seven for the Owls as JU opened up a 10-3 lead before KSU called a timeout. The Owls pulled within four after a block by junior Chelsey Denesha and Sabrita Gulley made the score 11-7, but JU soon opened up an 18-9 lead and never looked back.
The Owls fell into an early 4-0 hole in the third set, but KSU came back to tie the set at 11-11. A Denesha block kept the Owls even with the Dolphins, and after a kill by junior Asjia Stokes, the Owls led 13-12. The lead would be short lived for the Owls, as a 6-0 run for the Dolphins gave the visitors an 18-13 lead and put the set out of reach.
Gulley had 12 kills to lead all players, while Sara Bendorf had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs for JU. In a match-up of liberos, JU's Shelley Walroth had 16 to 14 for KSU's Selina O'Leary. But no one on this night matched the 18 of Leonce.
The Owls will return to action tomorrow when North Florida visits the KSU Convocation Center in the final home match of the season for the Owls. KSU will honor senior Tara Dillon in a pre-game ceremony, beginning at 4:00 p.m.
