By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Alyssa Long had eight kills and 11 digs as the Kennesaw State volleyball team fell, 3-0 (25-14, 29-27, 25-10), to Jacksonville State Tuesday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum in a non-conference contest.
Playing against JSU (2-2) for the first time in program history, the Owls sputtered in the first set but had a golden opportunity to take set two after a back-and-forth affair. Trailing 24-21 after an 8-2 JSU run, the Owls stormed back to nearly swipe the set. A kill by Sara Metroka, a block by Holly Knight and Baylee Strachan and a kill by Sabrita Gulley tied the set, 24-24. One point later, a JSU attack error gave KSU (2-2) set point, 25-24.
JSU fought off the first set point opportunity, but a Gulley kill gave the Owls another chance. Back-to-back kills by Stephanie Koontz changed the tide quickly, as JSU suddenly had set point, 27-26. The Owls showed resiliency in fighting off the set point chance with a Gulley kill, but a kill and a service ace gave the second set to JSU, 29-27.
The Owls sputtered in the final set, recording just two Lang kills while the Gamecocks hit .481 as a team en route to the 25-10 win.
KSU out-blocked JSU, 6.0-3.0, but JSU out-dug the Owls, 40-33, thanks in major part to a 16-7 advantage int he final set. Caitlin Vorbeck had 14 kills and five service aces to pace the Gamecocks.
The Owls will be back in action this Friday at 5 p.m. CDT when they face Northern Illinois at the UIC Invitational.
