By: By Joseph Feldman
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team won in thrilling fashion, 3-2 (25-17, 25-16, 23-25, 20-25, 15-11) against Stetson on Friday night at the Convocation Center in Atlantic Sun Conference competition.
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"We just told the team how proud we are of them," Kennesaw State head coach
Keith Schunzel said. "We played two great sets and then we played two sets where we were definitely below average and got out of our rhythm. Then we go down 8-2 in the fifth and we just found ways to make plays. Our setter found the right people at the right time and made a few serves late. That's what it's about in game five, you take tactics out of the game and it's whoever is going to make the big play."
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The Owls, now 9-12 on the year and 4-7 in the Atlantic Sun, were led by senior setter
Sara Metroka on a historic night where she claimed her 4,000
th assist and set the all-time sets played record at KSU with her 397
th after playing in the first set and now sits at 401. The 4000
th assist came on her 33
rd of the match late in the third set. She finished the match with 46 assists.
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"It means so much," Metroka said of her accolades on the court. "I came here into this young program with the thought that I could make a difference and try to bring Kennesaw State to a top tier team in the A-Sun. I couldn't have done it without my teammates and their support and I'm just glad they were with me."
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In the fifth set, the Hatters jumped out to an 8-2 lead before the Owls came storming back. Down 9-10, Metroka won four straight points on her serve with two big block assists from
Megan McGuinness to give the Owls a 13-11 lead. After an
Emily Bean kill, the Owls closed out the match on another block assist from
Toure Hopkins and McGuiness.
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KSU controlled the match early after winning the first set 25-17 with the Owls taking the opening set after Metroka's third kill.
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The second set was similar to the first set with it going back and forth in the beginning. With the set tied at seven Bean won five straight points including two aces to open up a lead. The Owls closed out the second set 25-16 with
Camille Pedraza serving.
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In a back and forth third set where
Kelly Marcinek had six kills, the Hatters ended up taking the set 25-23. After a Stetson service error, it was tied at 23 all before the Hatters scored the last two points.
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In yet another tightly contested fourth set it was tied at 15 on a kill by Bean before Stetson went on a four point run and closed out the set 25-20.
The Owls had a total of three players in double-figure kill totals with Hopkins having 10, Royster having 12, and Marcinek leading the team with 16.
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McGuinness finished the game with nine blocks and seven kills on a .545 hitting percentage. Pedraza led the team with 17 digs.
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KSU will play against Florida Gulf Coast next at the Convocation Center on Saturday, October 26 at 3 p.m. ET.
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To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State volleyball news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsVB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
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Fans are reminded that tickets to all 2013 home volleyball contests are free throughout the year.?Â
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-#GoKSUOwls-