By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Currently sitting in a tie for sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Kennesaw State University volleyball team will try to improve its standing in the race for the A-Sun Championships this weekend as the Owls play host to Lipscomb this Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by Belmont at 3 p.m. Both matches will take place at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (10-8, 5-6) are coming off what statistically ranks as one of the best defensive matches in the four-year history of the program. KSU recorded a program-record 109 digs in a four-set win at Mercer Tuesday night. Senior libero Selina O'Leary set the school record for digs in a match with 27, with sophomore setter
Rachael Albright just behind with 26. Junior
Sabrita Gulley joined the dig parade with 15 digs of her own.
KSU moved into a tie for sixth with East Tennessee State in the A-Sun standings. The top six teams will advance to the A-Sun Championships at the end of the regular season. To reach that goal, however, the Owls need to get a lift by getting a win over two teams that beat them earlier this season.
Lipscomb will enter the Convocation Center Friday night sporting a perfect 11-0 record in the A-Sun. The Bisons are the first team in the history of the conference to be 11-0 as this is the second year of a double round robin schedule in the A-Sun. Previously, teams in the conference only played each other once in the regular season. The last team to go undefeated for a regular season was ETSU in 2006 with a 9-0 record.
The Bisons have won 13 matches in a row to improve to 16-3 overall. Outside hitter Alex Kelly leads the A-Sun and the Bisons with 4.32 kills per set, with setter Stefine Pease leading the A-Sun with 11.54 assists per set.
Lipscomb defeated the Owls 3-0 in the earlier meeting this season in Nashville.
Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., Belmont will come calling upon the Convocation Center. The Bruins enter their weekend in Georgia with an 11-10 overall mark and a 7-4 record in A-Sun play. In the first meeting between the two schools this season, KSU won the first two sets but Belmont stormed back to win the final three sets and the match.
Saturday afternoon will be KSU's "Dig Pink" match as the Owls will raise money to benefit the Side-Out Foundation's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative. Fans will have the opportunity to make a flat donation or pledge to make a donation based on the amount of digs the Owls record against the Bruins. Patrons who wear pink to the match will receive free admission to the match.
Both of the weekend's matches will be available via
ASun.TV, with Dave Albert providing play-by-play of all the action.
