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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a 3-1 (19-25, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25) loss to Atlantic Sun Conference opponent Lipscomb, the Kennesaw State volleyball team did take its first set win off of the perennial volleyball force since the 2008 season.
“Last week I told the team I could not be more proud of them,” said Kennesaw State head coach
Karen Weatherington. “Well they one upped me tonight. They continue to respond and perform in a disciplined way. The execution of the game plan was a great team effort and we had great contribution all around. It’s a monumental step forward for KSU volleyball.”
Baylee Strachan (Sioux City, Iowa/Winthrop) put up yet another stellar performance to add to her resume, slamming 16 kills with a .393 attack percentage and four block assists. Fellow senior
Turea Jones (Santa Rosa, Calif./Santa Rosa JC) earned her 11
th double-double of the year during the outing as well with 11 kills and 19 digs.
The lone set win for KSU, now 16-14 overall and 5-10 in the A-Sun, came in the third with its back against the wall, down 2-0 in the match. With the Bisons up, 13-11, the black and gold went on a four point rally, taking the lead on Jones and Strachan kills. The two teams played a back-and-forth set down the home stretch before Strachan ultimately put the set away with a kill at 25-22.
Lipscomb, who jumps up to 16-10 on the season and 13-2 in the conference, took the match with a 25-20 win in the fourth set with back-to-back kills from Kaycee Green. Strachan kept things interesting for the Owls though, making it a three point match late with a kill to put the score at 23-20.
KSU kept pace with the offensive minded Bisons in the opening set, keeping it all tied up at 12 after a Lipscomb attack error. Four straight points by the home team then put LU up for good as they took the 25-19 set win.
The Owls never led in the second set, relinquishing a 10-2 lead to Lipscomb in the early goings. Jones put KSU within seven at 18-11 but it was too little too late as LU took the commanding, 25-16 win.
“We outhit, outdug, outblocked and outserved them,” added Weatherington. “The Bisons are a nationally recognized team because of their consistency and experience and hats off to them, but I’m proud of my girls for competing at such a high level.”
As a team, the black and gold earned 67 digs to the Bisons 59, eight blocks to their six and outhit Lipscomb .248 to .236.
Libero
Camille Pedraza (Marietta, Ga./Kell HS) earned a match high 19 digs while
Aneisha Christie (Alpharetta, Ga./Centennial) put up four blocks.
The Owls will continue the road trip tomorrow as they head to Northern Kentucky for a 3 p.m. contest.
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, Stetson 0
ETSU 3, Florida Gulf Coast 2
Northern Kentucky 3, Mercer 0
