By: By Joseph Feldman
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Jacksonville, Fla. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team beat the North Florida Ospreys 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-11) in a big Atlantic Sun Conference matchup at UNF Arena on Friday, November 8.
"I'm incredibly proud of our team's performance tonight," head coach
Keith Schunzel said. "There was an energy and a look in our girls' eyes from the time we stepped on the bus to come down to Florida yesterday afternoon. It continued throughout the day today and I knew 100 percent when the first whistle was blown that we'd be ready to go. Our seniors showed great leadership in a match that they knew was critical to our postseason hopes."
The Owls improve to 12-14 overall and 7-9 in the A-Sun pushing their lead over the Ospreys to two games for the sixth seed.
In the beginning of the intense first set, the Owls held a 5-4 lead and
Kelly Marcinek picked up her second of 19 kills to start a three-point run. The Ospreys would battle back to get within one at 12-11 and sophomore
Toure Hopkins started serving to push the lead to 15-11 after a
Sara Metroka kill. KSU would close out the first set 25-21 on another Marcinek kill.
The Owls jumped out in the second set to a quick 4-1 lead off of a
Megan McGuinness kill. KSU would extend the lead to it's largest of the set at 17-11 off a kill from senior
Emily Bean. The team would take a two set lead over the Ospreys when McGuiness got another kill from Metroka.
Hopkins came out serving in the decisive third set and led the Owls to an 11-0 lead behind an ace and three Marcinek kills. The Owls would close out the set 25-11 on an Osprey attack error.
"
Kelly Marcinek continues to do incredible things as a freshman and
Toure Hopkins leading the team wtih14 digs and starting the third set on an 11-0 serving run was big," Schunzel said. "The team is well aware that we need at least one more victory to ensure our spot in the conference tournament, and what I love right now is that they're embracing that challenge."
Metroka collected 32 assists and Sophomore
Cierra Royster chipped in with four kills and six blocks in the match.
Next up for the Owls is the Jacksonville Dolphins at 3 P.M. on Saturday, November 9.
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.
-#GoKSUOwls-
