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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Another strong performance from senior
Baylee Strachan helped the Owls take home a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22) win over Alabama State in Kennesaw State’s final non-conference match of the season.
Strachan (Sioux City, Iowa/Winthrop) had her fourth match with an attack percentage of .600 or better as she hit .643 with 10 kills and three aces to bring KSU’s overall record to 13-7.
“I was so happy to see Baylee and Jenna (Wilt) step up and play so well,” said Kennesaw State head coach
Karen Weatherington. “Baylee continues to impress in her senior season and that’s really due to her unselfish play and I think that definitely shows in her numbers.”
Wilt (Woodstock, Ga./Etowah HS) led the Owls in total kills with 11 while hitting .476, both of which were career highs for the freshman.
In the opening set, after falling behind 2-0, the Owls clipped off five straight points on the Hornets to go up, 5-2. The teams traded the lead two more times midway through the set before a Strachan kill put the black and gold up for good, 19-18. An Alabama State service error gave KSU the set, 25-22.
The Owls wasted no time in set two, lunging out to a 6-0 lead on four Hornet attack errors. It was then Strachan again for the Owls down the stretch, picking up a crucial point late as an ASU service error then ending things in favor of KSU, 25-16.
The final set of the match started off with the Owls taking an 11-5 lead after a 5-0 run capped off by a pair of Strachan kills. Kennesaw State went up 17-10 when ASU went on a 7-1 rally to close the gap on the Owls. At 24-20 KSU, the Hornets scored four straight to tie it up, but two attack errors by ASU gave the black and gold a 27-25 win.
“They were a really disciplined defensive team,” said Weatherington of tonight’s opponent. “I think that’s something we really needed to see at this point in the schedule and I think it sets us up well moving forward.”
The Owls hit .319 as a team, bettering their .216 season average, while dropping the Hornets to 1-18 on the season.
Emily Bean (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike HS) picked up a team high eight digs to go along with her seven kills and one block assist. Four different KSU players had five digs to aid in the win.
KSU also put up nine service aces, three each by Strachan and fellow senior
Turea Jones (Santa Rosa, Calif./Santa Rosa JC).
The Owls will be back in Atlantic Sun competition this weekend as KSU heads to Jacksonville, Fla. for a Friday night match with Jacksonville and a Saturday afternoon meeting with North Florida.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State volleyball news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsVB or by liking Kennesaw State University Volleyball on Facebook.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
Around the A-Sun
USC Upstate 3, Savannah State 0
North Florida 3, Stetson 0
Florida Gulf Coast 3, Jacksonville 0
