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KENNESAW, Ga. – After starting the season off at 3-0 for the first time in school history, the Kennesaw State volleyball team is looking to continue its winning ways this weekend as the Owls head to Savannah State for the Tiger Invitational.
The Owls won their first ever outright tournament championship in the Maroon Classic this past weekend, taking down host team Mississippi State in the process in a five set thriller.
Junior setter
Sara Metroka (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler High School) was named the Tournament MVP after an unprecedented 137 assists in the team’s three matches.
Camille Pedraza (Marietta, Ga./Kell High School) also earned All-Tournament honors with 78 total digs and a career single match high of 31 against Mississippi State in the championship match.
Senior
Turea Jones (Santa Rosa, Calif./Santa Rosa JC) continues to lead the offensive charge, earning three double-doubles in KSU’s first three matches.
On tap for this weekend in Savannah, Ga. are opponents Savannah State, Southern Utah, New Mexico and Maryland-Eastern Shore.
First up for the Owls, the host team, Savannah State, on Friday morning. The Tigers are still winless on the year at 0-3 after dropping all three matches last weekend in Arlington, Texas without winning a single set. SSU is hitting a low, -.051 as a team while allowing their opponents to hit at a .266 rate.
Southern Utah comes into the Tiger Invitational winless as well, dropping its first three matches to Utah State, Portland and Utah, winning just one set in the three game stretch. Head coach Debby Baker got her start in coaching at New Mexico State, serving six years as an assistant coach, as did KSU head coach
Karen Weatherington.
The Lobos of New Mexico are 3-1 after the first week of play, defeating Southern University twice and splitting a pair of games against Duquesne, all at home in Albuquerque, N.M. Chantale Riddle continues to be the driving force for New Mexico, compiling 56 kills, 25 digs and 13 blocks to start off the season.
Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only other undefeated team heading into the tournament, starting off at 3-0 and winning the Saint Francis College Terrier Invitational. The Hawks are hitting .321 as a team and are led by sophomore Saitaua Iosia, who leads in both kills with 64 and digs with 47.
The Owls take on the Tigers at 9 a.m. on Friday before the 5 p.m. clash with Southern Utah. New Mexico awaits on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the closing match against Maryland-Eastern Shore at 5 p.m.
For a full schedule of the weekend’s matches and results, visit the tournament homepage at
SSUAthletics.com.
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.
