By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - For a few amazing moments, Sabrita Gulley was touching rarified air. With her Kennesaw State volleyball team up two sets but down, 15-6, to Alabama A&M in the third, it was time for the senior from North Chicago to take over.
With 10 kills in the final set, Gulley set a new Kennesaw State record with 21 kills in a three-set match as the Owls rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final set to defeat Alabama A&M, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-20), on Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
"Sabrita executed extremely well offensively," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "Alabama A&M did a good job of adjusting to her defensively, but Sabrita did what all great upper-level players do and made her own adjustments."
Gulley became the first Kennesaw State player to record 20 kills in a three-set match, then added a 21st for good measure. Her final kill brought the Owls back from a nine-point deficit into an 18-18 tie in the final set.
From there, Gulley's teammates kept the momentum going. After an A&M attack error gave KSU the lead, Emily Bean recorded her only kill of the match to give the Owls a 20-18 lead. After another attack error by the Lady Bulldogs put KSU ahead by three, senior Katie Winschel earned her 10th kill to complete her first career double-double, putting the Owls up 22-18.
"Katie has been phenomenal in practice," said coach Weatherington of the senior from Lawrenceville, who finished with 11 kills and 11 digs. "It's not about someone losing their position on the court, but it's about someone earning a spot on the court. Katie comes to practice every day, works hard, and stays prepared. We needed her to step up tonight. She earned the start tonight, and she didn't do anything to give that spot away."
Winschel would earn her final kill to give KSU a 23-19 lead two points later. After A&M earned their final point of the match with a kill, back-to-back errors by the visitors gave KSU a, 25-20, win in the set and a, 3-0, win in the match.
Setter Sara Metroka had 41 assists, marking the second time this season that the freshman has cleared 40 assists in a three-set match. "When your hitters are as good as they were tonight, all credit goes to the setter," said coach Weatherington. "Sara made quick, decisive decisions and had an overall brilliant night."
The first set proved to be the most competitive with 13 ties and three lead changes. Tied 19-19, the Owls would take the lead for good on a kill by Winschel and back-to-back kills by Baylee Strachan. With the three-point lead in hand, the Owls were happy to trade points until the end, with a kill by Winschel and an attack error by A&M eventually giving the Owls a, 25-21, win.
In the second set, the Owls turned a three-point lead at 13-10 into a nine-point lead at 22-13. A pair of kills from both Strachan and Grace Hoyt helped to fuel KSU's rally, with the Owls taking advantage of A&M attack errors along the way.
For the night, the Owls had 53 kills, one off the school record for kills in a three-set match, set in 2007 when scoring went to 30 in a set instead of the current 25-point system. KSU hit .276 for the match, with Winschel leading the way at .476. Winschel was joined by Gulley with a double-double, as the North Chicago native added 10 digs.
The Owls will finally begin Atlantic Sun Conference play next Friday night in Nashville against Belmont. Match time is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.
