By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Rachael Albright recorded her fifth double-double of the year with 20 assists and 14 digs as the Kennesaw State volleyball team fell 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19) to Jacksonville in an Atlantic Sun Conference match Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.
"We fought hard, but we didn't put ourselves in position to make the winning plays when we needed them," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "Making a good effort is not the same as making a winning effort."
The Owls (8-7, 3-5) were led offensively by Asjia Stokes, who recorded 15 kills to reach 225 on the season, a new career-high. Chelsey Denesha fell a kill short of a double-double with nine kills and a team-high 16 kills, while Selina O'Leary had 12 digs to supplement Sabrita Gulley's 10.
The Owls came close to winning the two middle sets, but had to settle for winning just one. In the second set, KSU led 24-21, but three straight points for the Dolphins evened the set, 24-24. But the Owls continued to pressure, and a pair of JU errors would lead to a set win for KSU, 26-24.
In the third set, the Owls jumped out to a 7-1 lead but saw their lead evaporate by the end of the set. With the score tied 23-23, an attack error by the Owls led to a set point chance for the Dolphins. A tight play at the antenna went against the Owls, as instead of going off the JU block and off the antenna, the officials ruled the ball went off the KSU attack and into the antenna, giving the point and the set to JU, 25-23.
In the final set, the teams were tied after the first 26 points, but a 5-0 spurt by the Dolphins would give the visiting team a lead they would not relinquish. The Owls fought off one match point after a kill by Callie Churchwell, but a blocking error by the Owls ended the match with JU taking the fourth set, 25-19.
Aidan Yeager led a trio of JU players in double-figures in kills with 16. Shelley Walroth led all players with 22 digs, while JU setter Hannah Munneke had a double-double with 45 assists and 11 digs.
The Owls will return to action Thursday when they face Stetson in DeLand, Fla.
