By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - When the 2009 season started, there were a few goals for the Kennesaw State volleyball team. With four conference matches remaining, two have been reached and one is within grasp.
Chelsey Denesha had her fourth straight double-double with a match high 11 kills and team-high 10 digs, leading the Kennesaw State volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-19) victory over USC Upstate Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center. With the win, the Owls have secured a winning record for the first time in program history.
"I'm really excited about the championship level of volleyball that we're playing," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "To keep our errors at a minimum against an improving team like USC Upstate is a testament to how we've matured since the start of the season."
Denesha hit .400 for the match, committing just three errors in 20 attempts. The Watertown, N.Y., senior also had four total blocks, a season-high.
Sabrita Gulley tied Denesha for match-high kill honors with 11. The junior had five digs and two solo blocks in the victory.
"Chelsey and Sabrita have been showing leadership throughout the season," said Coach Weatherington. "The consistently came through for us in the clutch."
KSU's middle blockers had a huge night, as
Holly Knight and
Callie Churchwell combined for 15 kills, no attack errors, and eight total blocks.
"Callie came up big for us tonight," Coach Weatherington said. "Holly was our stabilizer. She does the same things in the match that she does in practice. Her stats don't always pop out at you off the box score, but she keeps working hard every day. She personifies toughness."
The Owls won each set by the same score, keeping the same offensive intensity throughout the match. KSU hit a program-record .500 in the first set, connecting on 17 kills with just two errors in 30 attempts. The Owls kept it going in set two, hitting .473 with 17 kills and one error in 35 swings.
The final set was the most competitive of the match, with eight ties and four lead changes. Trailing 15-14, the Owls went on a 6-0 run to seal the deal. A kill by Knight sparked the run, then after an Upstate attack error, a kill by Denesha sent Upstate into a timeout down 17-15. Off the stoppage,
Maja Kostic connected for two of her nine kills, and a block by Denesha and Knight capped the spurt with KSU on top 20-15.
From there, it was all KSU as Churchwell closed out the match with her sixth kill in nine attempts, giving the Owls a 25-19 win in the set and a 3-0 win in the match.
The win was KSU's seventh at home this season, also ensuring the Owls will finish 2009 with a winning record at home for the first time. Earlier this week, KSU won its sixth non-conference match of the year, also a program record.
Ginny Frederick had 18 assists, including the 1,500th assist of her career.
Rachael Albright had a match-high 24 assists.
The Owls stayed in a tie for fifth in the A-Sun, as Belmont won in five sets at North Florida to keep pace with KSU. Campbell swept Stetson to move to 9-6 in the A-Sun and will face Florida Gulf Coast Saturday afternoon, looking to take a one-game lead over KSU and Belmont. If Campbell loses, the Owls will move into a tie with the Camels.
KSU will be idle until Friday when FGCU visits for an A-Sun match. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
