By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
NASHVILLE - Sabrita Gulley had 17 kills while Camille Pedraza had 26 digs as the Kennesaw State volleyball team rallied from a, 2-0, deficit to stun Belmont, 3-2 (18-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-13) on Friday night at the Curb Event Center in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams.
"We have been preaching to the team that it would be tough on the road but that we can't afford to give up until the final whistle," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "We knew we were in a hole but that we could climb out of it. I am so proud of the effort of every player that stepped on the court tonight. To win our conference opener on the road means a lot to the future."
The final set was a see-saw affair, with the Owls jumping out to an, 8-3, lead, thanks in part to kills by Hoyt and Gulley and a pair of aces from Eman Burns. However, as the teams switched sides, momentum switched sides as well. The Bruins rallied for a 9-0 run, taking a 12-8 lead in an attempt to steal the match back. Undaunted, the Owls responded. After a kill on a dump by Sara Metroka, an attack error by the Bruins brought KSU back within two, 12-10, and sent Belmont into its last timeout.
Off the stoppage, the Owls tied the set up. A kill by Gulley brought KSU within one, and an ace by Lang tied the set at a dozen points apiece. KSU still wasn't done, as Gulley rolled home an attack from off the court at am impossible angle to give the Owls the lead, 13-12. Belmont would score the next point off a dump, making it 13-13, but that would prove to be the final point the Bruins scored. Gulley's 17th and last kill of the match gave KSU match point, and an attack error gave the set and match, 15-13 and 3-2.
The Owls (8-8, 1-0 A-Sun) dropped the first two sets, but stormed back to take the third set, 25-19. In the fourth set, the Owls ran out of subs with the score 22-19, and the Bruins came back to tie the set, 22-22. But the Owls were undaunted. A kill by Holly Knight gave the Owls back the lead, 23-22. A Belmont attack error gave KSU set point, 24-22. From there, it was Grace Hoyt who sent the match to its conclusion, firing home a kill to give KSU a 25-22 win.
Pedraza and Alyssa Lang combined for 49 digs on the night, with Pedraza recording the third-highest total in digs for the Owls in program history with 26 in the five-set affair. After only recording one ace in the first two sets, the Owls had six in the final three sets, including three in the finale.
Kayla Albritton had 16 kills for Belmont (6-12, 0-1 A-Sun), while Maggie Johnson had 14 kills to go with 15 digs for a double-double. Starting setter Channing Salava had a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs in only three sets played.
The Owls will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they face Lipscomb. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. CDT at Allen Arena.
