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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team lost to FGCU 3-0 (20-25, 18-25, 21-25) on Friday, November 7.
 
"First off, credit to Gulf Coast," head coach Keith Schunzel said. "They played a very good match and they are playing significantly better than the last time that we played them, so kudos to their players and staff. It felt like our team overall played pretty good volleyball most of the night tonight. We served well, we passed very well, our setter had a nice match and we gave ourselves quite a few chances to go on some point-scoring runs. Where we faltered tonight was twofold. First, we made too many hitting errors and gave them too many free points. Against a good team like Gulf Coast, you have to be aggressive but also find a way to keep the ball in play and we struggled with that tonight. Secondly, we did a really good job giving ourselves some chances to dig and transition kill by sticking to our game plan and with our blockers making some really good moves. Unfortunately, we didn't come up with enough digs and when we did we weren't able to terminate, which again, you have to do against a good team like Gulf Coast."
 
Anaiah Boyer led the team with nine kills hitting .207.
 
Kristi Piedimonte led the team with 28 assists, and Toure Hopkins chipped in with 16 digs.
 
FGCU grabbed an early lead in the first going up 4-0 right away and would maintain that lead. Kennesaw State went on a 3-0 run to cut the lead to 23-19 late, but the Eagles won two of the next three points to claim the first set 25-20.
 
In the second set, the Eagles went up 10-5, but the Owls responded with an 8-2 run behind three Kelly Marcinek kills to take a 13-12 lead. From there, FGCU won eight of the next nine points to go up 2-0 in the match.
 
Out of the locker room, the Owls came out in the third and went on a 4-0 run to spoil an early lead for the Eagles. From there, the teams traded points all the way to 16 all. FGCU broke the streak winning the next three points and didn't relinquish the lead, claiming the set and the match.
 
"Tomorrow against Stetson is now the biggest match of the year," Schunzel said. "It's a team just above us in the standings and frankly it's a match we're going to have to find a way to win to keep us in the conference tournament race. I know our team will be ready."

The Stetson match is tomorrow for a 5 p.m. match. It will be shown on A-Sun TV.
 
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.