By: by KSU Sports Information
Live Stats
KENNESAW, Ga. - With the non-conference portion of the schedule out of the way, the Kennesaw State volleyball team will get into the heart of the 2011 season Friday night as Belmont visits the KSU Convocation Center in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
"We're excited to be starting A-Sun play," said KSU head coach Karen Weatherington. "The conference, as a whole, took some lumps during the non-conference season, but it's going to make us all better in the long run. Belmont is a very solid team with the Preseason Player of the Year playing on their side. We are going to have to work hard, defend to the best of our abilities, and make plays at clutch times if we want to win."
The Owls (5-10) have dropped three straight matches entering Friday night's contest. On Tuesday night, KSU held a, 13-7, lead in the fifth set, but fell, 15-13, en route to a loss against metro rival Georgia State. The match was the fifth out of 15 this season that the Owls have played five sets. Four of those matches have been at home.
Belmont (9-6) is the only team entering A-Sun play with a winning record. Led by Maggie Johnson's 4.59 kills per set, the Bruins have won seven of their last eight matches entering Friday night's contest. Johnson, the A-Sun's Preseason Player of the Year, leads the A-Sun in both kills per set and points per set (5.01).
The teams met just one time last season, but it proved to be a springboard match for Kennesaw State. Down two sets, the Owls stormed back to win the next three sets, including a 15-13 victory in the finale. The match marked the first time in 69 matches that the Owls had rallied back to win in five sets after dropping the first two.
"We fully realize that last year's match will be a bit of added motivation for Belmont," Coach Weatherington said. "On top of that, no one wants to start conference play with a loss. A win would be a big lift for this team heading into Saturday's match and the rest of the season."
A-Sun play will continue on Saturday for the Owls as Lipscomb will visit the KSU Convocation Center. First serve in Saturday's match is scheduled for 3 p.m.
