By: by KSU Sports Information
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Justine Young had 21 kills and Alyssa Lang had a career-high 24 digs as the Kennesaw State volleyball team defeated USC Upstate, 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-16, 25-14), in Atlantic Sun Conference action Friday night at the Hodge Center.
"Our seniors really helped us take control of this match," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "Justine was just an incredible force on the attack and Alyssa just continues to be a double-double machine for us. Winning on the road is always tough, but I'm glad we found a way to battle and get a win tonight."
Sara Metroka had 47 assists on the evening, while Baylee Strachan set a new KSU record for aces in a match with seven, including four in the final set.
The Owls (10-12, 5-2) came out strong in the opening set, never trailing en route to the 25-19 win. KSU led by as many as seven in the set, but the Spartans (7-15, 2-6) fought back to cut the lead down to two, 21-19. That would be as close as the home team got, as a Young kill sparked a four-point spurt to end the set in favor of the Owls.
After a tight opening to the second set, Upstate pushed the lead up to five, 23-18. Three straight kills by Young let the Owls cut the lead to two, 23-21, but the Spartans would get three set point tries at 24-21. Young helped the Owls fight off the first one with a kill, but the Spartans got a kill from Morgan Thomas to close out the set and even the best-of-five at one apiece.
The intermission came at the perfect time for KSU, as the Owls stormed to a big win in set three. KSU scored the first four points of the set and never looked back. With eight set points in hand after a Lang kill, the Owls earned the final point of the third on an Upstate attack error for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five.
With the score tied 12-all in the fourth set, the Owls went on a massive run to close the match. KSU scored four straight points to lead, 16-12, before Upstate scored to slow the bleeding. A Lang kill and an Upstate attack error gave KSU an 18-13 lead, but Upstate closed it to four, 18-14, with a kill. That would prove to be the last point the home team would score. Strachan's eighth and final kill of the match sparked a 7-0 run, with Strachan serving out the final six points. Strachan had her four aces in the set during the run, including the final three points of the match as the Owls pulled away for the 25-14 win.
Lang's 24 digs were backed by Emily Bean's 15 and Camille Pedraza's 10. Lang joined Young in double-figures in kills with 16. Strachan finished the night with 16 points scored, with Young leading the team with 21 and Lang tallying 18.5
Thomas had 15 kills to lead the Spartans.
The Owls will return to action Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Johnson City, Tenn, as they take on East Tennessee State in A-Sun play.
