By: by KSU Sports Information
NASHVILLE - Kennesaw State's volleyball team will begin its third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Championship appearance tonight as it takes on East Tennessee State at 8:30 p.m. at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb.
"We're looking forward to what we know will be a great match with ETSU." said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "ETSU is a well-coached team that has a lot of talent. We know exactly what they are capable of as a squad. We just have to focus on playing our match and having more intensity than ETSU. At this point in the season, it comes down to who wants it more, and we have to want it more."
The Owls (13-15) split the regular season series with ETSU this season. The Owls swept the Bucs in Johnson City, Tenn., Oct. 22. Six days later, the Bucs traveled to Kennesaw and defeated the Owls in five sets.
Tonight's match will be a match-up of A-Sun First Team All-Conference honorees. Owls' outside hitter Alyssa Lang was a unanimous selection to the squad after finishing the regular season ranked 10th in the conference in both kills per set and digs per set in A-Sun matches. ETSU's Megan Devine was also named to the First-Team after leading ETSU in kills and points.
The two teams met last season in the A-Sun Championships last year, with ETSU winning in four sets. That loss gives the Owls a bit of added motivation. "This is our second time here," said Lang. "This isn't new to us. We know the drill, and we're just that much more hungry to come out and win this year because we left with a bitter taste in our mouths last year. We're eager to get out there and accomplish what we've been working for every day this season."
While Thursday is the day teams truly get down to business, Wednesday was a day for travel, practice, and the A-Sun Championship Banquet. The teams had a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame before the dinner and awards ceremony. Lang received her First Team All-Conference award, while Justine Young was recognized as a Second Team All-Conference honoree and Sara Metroka received recognition for her appointment to the A-Sun Volleyball All-Academic Team.
ASun.TV will provide free coverage of the A-Sun Championships, beginning with Thursday's first quarterfinal match between Florida Gulf Coast and North Florida at 6 p.m. KSU's contest will begin at 8:30 p.m., or a minimum of 30 minutes after the completion of the first quarterfinal.
