Aug. 31, 2008
Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--In the first match of the new 25-point scoring era, the Kennesaw State volleyball team fought hard in all three sets but lost 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 26-24) to Air Force at the Air Force Labor Day Tournament.
The loss spoiled the debuts of several Owls who played solidly in the loss. Freshman Callie Churchwell led the Owls attack with 10 kills, with fellow frosh Rachael Albright recording 26 assists to guide the Owls attack. Junior Chelsey Denesha had eight kills in her Owls debut.
Kennesaw State led for most of the third set, but Air Force spoiled the afternoon with a stunning rally to take the set and the match. The Black and Gold led by five, 15-10, after a kill by Denesha. Air Force began to chip away at the advantage, cutting the lead to two at 20-18, but a kill by Albright pushed the lead back to three. With KSU up 22-19 after a Denesha kill, the Falcons scored the next three points in a row to tie the set at 22-all.
KSU would get the next two points to set up set point, with a kill by Paris Leonce giving KSU its 24th point of the set; however, that would be the final point that the Owls would score in the match, as three consecutive errors by KSU gave Air Force match point. After a KSU timeout, a service ace by the Falcons gave Air Force the win.
The Owls led 6-3 in the first set before an 8-1 run by the Falcons put the home team ahead to stay. KSU trailed 23-17 in the set, but rallied to score the next four points thanks to a Selina O'Leary ace and three Air Force attack errors. With the lead trimmed to four, the Falcons scored the next two points to take the opening set.
The second set saw the Owls trail by seven points late before a stirring rally brought KSU to within a point of the home team. Down 23-16, a Falcon error bookended by a kill and an ace for Denesha brought the Owls within four. Air Force took the next point, but kills by Asjia Stokes and Sabrita Gulley, along with a pair of errors by the Falcons, inched KSU to within a point at 24-23.
KSU's rally brought false hope for the second set, however, as an attack error gave the Falcons set two, 25-23.
The Owls had more digs than Air Force, 41-28, as O'Leary led all defenders with 11 digs. Air Force had 41 kills to KSU's 36, with the Falcons committing eight fewer attack errors.
KSU will be back in action later this afternoon when the Owls face the University at Buffalo. Match time is set for 5:00 p.m. MDT.
