GAME NOTES | ESPN3 (Jacksonville) | ESPN3 (North Florida) | LIVE STATS

TALKING POINTS
» In the last two home matches of the year, KSU will host Jacksonville on Friday, October 31 at 7 p.m. and North Florida on Saturday, November 1 at 3 p.m. for Senior Day.
» The Owls will celebrate Ria Ridley, Chade Martin and Dominique Simmons on Saturday. Ridley is in her second year with the program and has made big contributions this season. Martin has been with the program for five years. Simmons started out as a player and transitioned into being a student-coach towards the end of her career.
» Freshman Katarina Morton captured her first Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Week Award after her 26-dig performance against USC Upstate last weekend. She also had six assists against the Spartans.

THE COMPETITION
Jacksonville                                    
Since starting 1-4 in conference play, Jacksonville (12-11, 3-5) swept KSU and USC Upstate. After losing last weekend at UNF, the Dolphins are tied for fifth in the A-Sun.
 
Sammie Strausbaugh leads the A-Sun in kills with 377 and kills per set with 4.77.
 
Julie Darty is in her first year as head coach of the Dolphins.
 
North Florida                                  
North Florida (10-14, 3-5) is on a five game winning streak and won three straight conference matches after starting out 0-5.
 
The recent success of the Ospreys is because of how strong they are defensively. UNF leads the A-Sun in blocks as a team and their libero Cari Whitmire leads the conference averaging 4.78 digs per set.
 
UNF is coached by Steve Loeswick.
 
» NEWS AND NOTES
Last Time Out                              
»   In a pivotal match against USC Upstate, the Owls came back from a 2-1 deficit to win the match in five sets. In the decisive fifth set, KSU went on a 9-0 run to start the set and close out the match.
 
Coach Schunzel on the USC Upstate Comeback
»   "It was a bit of a rollercoaster tonight. We played really well in set one then not so much in sets two or three, but then came out clean and aggressive in sets four and five. I'm proud of our team for digging themselves out of that rut which isn't an easy thing to do. We regrouped and came out in the last two sets and came out with a win."
 
KSU as a Team                              
»   The Owls continued their strong play defensively in conference matches. They had 14 blocks against USC Upstate with six of those coming in the fifth set. Three players had more than four block assists with Cierra Royster having 10, Kelly Marcinek having six and Anaiah Boyer having four. 
»   The team tied a school record against FGCU with 16.0 blocks in the match. In the four conference matches at home, the Owls have averaged 9.2 blocks a match and 6.33 blocks in the three road matches. Individually, the Owls have six players with more than 26 blocks during the season.
 
KSU Individually                         
» Boyer has elevated her game as the season has gone on. Four of her five double-doubles on the season have come in the last four matches. In those four matches, she has 56 kills and 45 digs. Boyer's blocking has also stepped up as she has posted 11 blocks in those four matches.
» Morton is third in the conference in digs per set averaging 4.41. In conference play, her play has gone up to another level as she is averaging 5.07 digs per set, which is third in the A-Sun. She not only makes a difference on the defensive end, but she has 26 aces on the season.
» Kristi Piedimonte's aggression on the offensive end goes beyond setting. She has 86 kills to this point in the season and is two behind Sara Metroka's 88 kills that she had in 2012. The 88 kills is the most ever by a setter at KSU.
» Piedimonte's serve has been one of the best for the Owls all year and really came through in the clutch last weekend. With her serving, the team closed out the fourth set and then she led the team on a 9-0 run to start the fifth set. Her 28 service aces on the season leads the team.
» Royster finished the match against Upstate with 10 blocks for the second time this season. In conference play, she is fourth averaging 1.08 per set with 28 in the 26 sets she has played in.
» Senior Ria Ridley received her most extensive action all season staying in for all six rotations and played really well. She posted a new career high with 20 digs. Her previous career high in digs was four. Ridley also had eight kills.

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 2014 home volleyball contests are free throughout the year.