By: by KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. - A chance to run the conference's longest current winning streak to seven matches is in the cards for the Kennesaw State volleyball team this Friday night at 7 p.m. The Owls will play host to East Tennessee State at the KSU Convocation Center with the chance to clinch a berth into the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships also hanging in the balance.
"Playing ETSU in back-to-back matches offers some unique challenges for us," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "We remember winning that match, but we know ETSU has memories of losing that match. They'll be coming in fired up and looking to take us down after winning in their gym. We're looking forward to the opportunity to win the match and earn a spot in the conference tournament."
The Owls (11-12, 6-2) have won six straight matches, including last Saturday's 3-0 sweep of the Bucs in Johnson City, Tenn. Justine Young led all players with 12 kills, while Camille Pedraza guided the back-row defense to the tune of 18 digs. Baylee Strachan helped to supplement the offense with 10 big kills as well.
Another milestone in the career of Alyssa Lang will likely be reached this Friday. Lang needs just two digs to reach 1,000 for her career and become the first player to reach the 1,000 kill/1,000 dig milestone while wearing a Kennesaw State uniform. This season, Lang is averaging 2.93 kills and 3.41 digs per set after overcoming a separated shoulder sustained just prior to the eighth match of the season.
Other members of the KSU roster are also on a record pace. With 318 kills, Young is now 67 away from tying Sabrita Gulley's program record of 385 kills in a season. Young would need to average 13.4 kills per match in KSU's remaining five regular season matches to reach the mark before any potential conference tournament matches.
Sophomore setter Sara Metroka is also running the offense at a rate never before seen with the Owls. Metroka is averaging 10.21 assists per set, which is nearly half an assist better than the school record, which she set last season. With 868 assists this season, Metroka is easily within reach of becoming the first KSU player to reach 1,000 assists in a year and could potentially reach the 2,000 assists mark for her career by the end of 2011.
ETSU (11-14, 4-5) enters the weekend with a one-match lead over Jacksonville and North Florida for the fifth spot in the A-Sun standings. With only the top six teams in the conference earning a bid into the tournament, victories are becoming more and more of a precious commodity for the Bucs. In last Saturday's contest, Megan Devine led the Bucs with eight kills, but was held to just one in the final set.
Friday night is Mouse Pad Giveaway Night at KSU, as the first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free KSU mouse pad. For fans that can't be in attendance,
ASun.TV will provide full coverage of the match.
