By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Off to the best start in program history, the Kennesaw State volleyball team will open the home portion of the schedule with a tournament, co-hosting the Great 8 Volleyball Challenge Presented by Residence Inn - Kennesaw this Friday and Saturday at the KSU Convocation Center. The Owls will begin play with a match against Alabama A&M at 7 p.m. Friday.
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Kennesaw State (2-1) finished in second place at last weekend's Staybridge Suites Rocket Classic in Toledo, Ohio. The Owls won their season opener for the first time ever, defeating Marist 3-2. The next day, the Owls moved to two matches over .500 for the first time in program history with a 3-1 victory over Bryant. While KSU fell in the championship match to Toledo, there was reason for excitement exiting last weekend and entering this weekend.
Asjia Stokes and
Sabrita Gulley were each named to the All-Tournament team in Toledo, while
Chelsey Denesha set a new career-high with 21 digs in KSU's win in the season opener.
"The pumped about the home opener tomorrow," said KSU head coach
Karen Weatherington. "The women are focused and ready to come out and play three home matches against three difficult opponents."
KSU will open up play against Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs (0-4) are coming off a tough stretch of matches, falling to Alabama, UAB, and twice to Auburn. Clarissa Moore will enter the tournament as reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Week following her 22 kills over three matches at the University of Auburn Tournament last weekend.
Nicholls State (0-4) will battle Rider (1-3) in the first match of the weekend in Kennesaw. The Colonels of NSU lost three matches at the Mizuno Invitational at Rice University last weekend before falling in four sets to Southern Miss in the home opener for the Colonels Tuesday night. The Broncs of Rider went 1-3 last weekend at a tournament hosted by William & Mary. Rider topped North Carolina A&T but fell to Ohio State, the host Tribe, and Maryland-Eastern Shore.
After a change to the format of the tournament's schedule, the teams scheduled for matches in Kennesaw will stay in Kennesaw for the remainder of the tournament. KSU will face Rider on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., followed by a contest between Alabama A&M and Nicholls State at 11 a.m. The afternoon matches will feature Rider and Alabama A&M at 4 p.m., and the Owls and Nicholls State in the finale at 6 p.m.
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