By: by Jason Hanes
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Grace Hoyt had a career-high 17 kills with just two errors and a .455 hitting percentage as the Kennesaw State volleyball team kept a hold of second place in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a, 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21) win over Campbell on Friday night at Gore Arena.
"Grace played with confidence tonight," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "Campbell's blocking schemes are second to none in this conference, but our middle hitters were able to help carry us in the match. Grace had an exceptional performance and I couldn't be prouder of the effort she and our entire team had tonight."
The Owls (14-9, 6-1) won their sixth consecutive match, but had to fight tooth-and-nail for every point against the Camels. Down 21-18, the Owls rallied to knot the set, 22-22, after a Campbell attack error. KSU took the lead, 23-22, after another CU attack error, but earned a point off an ace by Sara Metroka to earn set point.
The first attempt didn't work out, but a kill by Holly Knight gave the Owls set one, 25-23. While Campbell took the second set, 25-18, the Owls wouldn't be denied in the third set. KSU trailed 19-17, but a service error by the Camels, a block by Knight and Hoyt and a solo block by Knight gave KSU the lead, 20-19.
From there, the Owls wouldn't trail again, but the teams would the next seven point. The Owls woud finally break the string on ther first set point of the third. After a kill by Alyssa Lang gave KSU set point, Baylee Strachan connected on a feed from Metroka to give the Owls the set, 25-23.
In the finale, the Owls never trailed but were frequently challenged. After a solo block by Hoyt stretched the lead to four, 20-16, Campbell reeled off three straight points to pull within one. After a quick timeout to refocus the troops, the Owls were firing on all cylinders.
Kills by Hoyt bookended an ace by Turea Jones to push the lead back to four, 23-19. After two CU points cut the lead to two. the Owls closed out the match. A forceful kill by Lang gave the Owls set point, and only one attempt to close would be needed as an attack error gave the Owls the set, 25-21.
Metroka and Lang each had double-doubles on the night. Metroka had a career-high 49 assists to go with 10 digs while Lang had 15 kills and 17 digs. Gulley had 11 kills on the night, leaving her two short of 300 for the season. Camille Pedraza also dug up 16 Camels attack.
A trio of Camels were in double-figures in kills, led by Allyson Goldbach's 15. Goldbach also had 12 digs to convert a double-double.
The Owls will be back in action next Friday when they host East Tennessee State in what could potentially amount to a match to decide second place in the A-Sun. First serve at the KSU Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m.
