By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
CHICAGO - Sabrita Gulley, Alyssa Lang, and Sara Metroka each recorded double-doubles as the Kennesaw State volleyball team fell, 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20) to Illinios-Chicago to begin the second day at the UIC Invitational Saturday morning.
Gulley, a senior playing in her hometown, finished with a match-high 16 kills to go with 21 digs. Metroka earned her first collegiate double-double with 23 assists and 13 digs. Lang completed KSU's double-double trifecta with 15 kills and 10 digs.
The Owls (2-4) battled hard against UIC, most especially in taking the second set, 25-18. With the set tied 11-all, an ace by Metroka, a block by Holly Knight and Ceci Mattei, and back-to-back kills by Gulley gave KSU a 15-11 advantage. UIC (2-2) trimmed the lead to three, 18-15, but a three-point spurt bookended by a pair of Lang kills pushed KSU's lead to six. KSU would finish off the seven-point win with a kill by Mattei to cap the 25-18 win.
In set one, the Owls trailed 22-21 before three straight kills by Kelsey Safranek gave the Flames a 25-21 win. In the third set, the Flames led 16-13 before a 4-0 sput stretched the lead to seven, 20-13. The Owls were down 24-17 but fought off three straight set points until a service error ended the set, 25-20. KSU led briefly in the final set, but the Flames would lead by as many as eight until settling for the 25-20 win.
The Owls had four players in double-figures in digs as freshman Camille Pedraza set a season-high with 12. Knight and Grace Hoyt each had five total blocks, while Mattei had a solid all-around match with eight kills, five assists, four blocks, three digs, and two aces.
Casie Sullivan led UIC with 15 kills on a .500 attack percentage and 16 digs. Tayler Szatkowski had a match-high 23 digs.
The Owls will be back in action this evening at 5 p.m. CDT when they face Memphis to conclude play at the UIC Invitational. Live audio will be available via KSUOwls.com.
