BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team dropped their first contest of the 2012 season with a three set loss to Southern Utah at the Tiger Volleyball Invitational. SUU took the match 25-22, 25-18, and 25-17 to send the Owls to 4-1 on the season.
The Owls dropped the first set to the Thunderbirds (1-4) 25-22 after battling back from three SUU runs. Finding themselves down 13-17, Kennesaw State went on a five point run on the service of Jenna Wilt (Woodstock, Ga. / Etowah) to take an 18-17 advantage. The lead would soon be relinquished, as SSU would out score the Owls 7-5 to close out the first set.
The second set played like an echo of the first set with the same result as the Owls resurgence wasn’t enough, falling 25-18. Again the Black and Gold fought to withstand multiple runs by the Thunderbirds, but a 7-0 run to close out the second frame proved to be to tough to overcome.
In the third set, Kennesaw State jumped out to an early lead, but after allowing SUU to tie the set at 13 all, the Thunderbirds went on another one of their signature runs. They would close out the set on a 12-4 run, giving the Owls their first loss of the tournament and the season.
Turea Jones (Santa Rosa, Calif. / Rincon Valley Christian) led the Owls with 12 kills, while Keyaira Stevenson (Columbia, S.C. / Ridgeview) recorded 10. Sara Metroka (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler High School) again led the Black and Gold in assists with 27, while Wilt finished with a team high, three aces. The downfall of the Owl was their errors. KSU made 20 unforced errors, while the Thunderbirds committed only seven.
"Tonight was a good learning experience for us," Metroka, the team's captain said. "We have not really been challenged this season so a loss like tonight will be valuable for the freshman. We will re-group from this and come back tomorrow, energized and ready to take on New Mexico."
Kennesaw State will resume play on Saturday as they take on New Mexico of the Mountain West Conference. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 pm., with a match-up against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore ensuing at 5 p.m. Live streaming of both matches can be viewed at SSUAthletics.com.
Keep up with Owls volleyball and the entirety of the Tiger Volleyball Invitational by following KSU on Twitter at @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOWLSVB, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
