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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team got back on the winning side of the net on Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center, taking down Atlantic Sun Conference opponent North Florida in five sets, 3-2 (25-15, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 15-12).
 
The Owls improve to 7-9 on the year and 2-4 in the A-Sun with the victory, knocking North Florida down to 5-11 overall and 2-4 in the league standings after the five set thriller that saw KSU take the first two sets before the Ospreys battled back to send it to five.
 
"The first two sets we came out and played really well with lots of energy," said head coach Keith Schunzel. "We hit a lapse at the intermission that was kind of disappointing, but that happens. In sets three and four we had chances but we just didn't come out with a win. Then in set five it was back and forth as was expected but we took it in our first match point attempt and I'm proud of that. We did a lot of good things today. It wasn't always good and it wasn't always pretty but we're happy about it."
 
KSU came out and cruised through the first set, taking it to the Ospreys 25-15, after starting off the match with an 8-1 run, picking up two kills each from Chade Martin and Kelly Marcinek. In fitting fashion, it was then Marcinek and Martin who combined to pick up the block to give the Owls the set win.
 
Things were much closer in the second with neither team holding more than a three-point lead during the affair. The set saw 13 ties and five lead changes including a 25-25 tie that forced extra points, where the Owls came out on top after scoring two on kills by Sara Metroka and Marcinek to end it, 27-25.
 
KSU never led in the third set after the Ospreys leaped out to the 4-1 lead in the early portions. Cierra Royster tied up the set at 12-12 with a kill set by Metroka, but it was UNF that scored the next two as the Ospreys went on to the 25-22 win.
 
UNF then took set four, 25-19, to force the tie-breaking fifth set in the match.
 
In the final set to 15 it was KSU that struck first on an attack error from UNF to put the Owls up, 1-0. The two then played to a 9-9 tie before the Owls pulled away, scoring the next two on a Marcinek kill and a block from senior Emily Bean along with Martin. Royster then ended the set and the match at 15-12 with her 15^th kill of the afternoon.
 
KSU put four players in double-figure kills, the most this season, with Marcinek's 18 leading the way, followed by 15 from Royster, 13 from Toure Hopkins and 10 from Bean as the Owls hit .207 through the match.
 
Metroka had her third 50-plus assist match of the year as she put up 53.
 
Defensively, Hopkins completed her second double-double of the season with a team-best 21 digs while libero Camille Pedraza earned 18.
 
Martin and Bean also combined for 13 of the Owl's 17 blocks.
 
KSU now hits the road for four straight A-Sun contests starting this Friday, Oct. 11 with a 6 p.m. ET match at Northern Kentucky.
 
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.
 
Fans are reminded that tickets to all 2013 home volleyball contests are free throughout the year.
 

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