NOTES |  LIVE STATS

TALKING POINTS
» After hosting the KSU Owls Invitational, the Owls will head to Coastal Carolina for two matches on Friday and one on Saturday. On Friday, the team will have an early start as they play Tennessee at 9 a.m. and then will play Coastal Carolina that night at 7 p.m. with the game broadcasted on the the Big South Network. On Saturday, KSU will finish off the tournament against Loyola Maryland at 11 a.m.
» Setter Kristi Piedimonte was named the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Week after totaling 144 assists in four matches along with 29 digs, 18 kills and six blocks. She recorded the first two double-doubles of her career against Elon and UNC Asheville and she set or matched all of her career highs with 52 assists, 10 digs and seven kills against UNC Asheville.
» The Owls are a combined 1-6 against SEC opponents. The one win came against Mississippi State at their tournament in 2012. Chade Martin is the only remaining player from that team. This will be the first time KSU will play Tennessee.
 
THE COMPETITION
Tennessee                                    
The Tennessee Volunteers (3-4) finished 13th in the SEC a year ago with a record of 9-23 overall. The Vols return eight letter winners and welcome eight new players with six of those being freshmen. Tennessee is coached by Rob Patrick, who has been there for 17 years.
 
Coastal Carolina                          
Coastal Carolina is 4-2 overall in 2014 and just played in the Jacksonville Invitational and beat fellow A-Sun opponents Jacksonville and North Florida. They were 19-12 a year ago and finished second in the Big South with a 10-4 record. The Chanticleers came to the KSU Owls Invitational in 2013 and the Owls won in four sets. Jozsef Forman is in his second year as head coach of the Chants. 
 
Loyola Maryland                           
Loyola Maryland (1-5) were 8-20 in 2013 and 4-11 in the Patriot League. Statistically, they are led by Molly Cichosz who has 90 kills averaging 4.09 kills per set. Setter Lauren Anderson has 208 assists on the season so far averaging just over nine per set. The Greyhounds head coach is Jake Lawrence.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
Last Time Out                                    
» The Owls went 1-2 in the KSU Owls Invitational. The team played in two five setters losing to Elon and beating UNC Asheville before falling to AVCA No. 7 Purdue in three sets. The Owls did challenge the Boilermakers in the first set before dropping it 23-25.
 
Coach Schunzel on the Support at Home           
» "We played in three really competitive matches with a ton of fan support. I can't thank the crowds enough. The energy and atmosphere in this gym is what college sports is all about."
 
KSU as a Team                                   
» The Owls offense came to life against UNC Asheville as the team set season-highs with 69 kills, 66 assists and a .307 hitting percentage.
» Defensively, the team has had a strong start to the season. They have held their seven opponents to a .195 hitting percentage. Against Belmont, KSU had 86 digs in the match, which is more digs than the team had in any match in 2013. The most digs the team had during the 2013 season was 83 twice.
» The team combined for four double-doubles over the weekend and all of them came from Piedimonte and Fanise Cannon. Both of them each had a double-double against Elon and UNC Asheville.
» KSU has started the season 2-0 on the road as they head to Coastal Carolina.
 
KSU Individually                               
» Cannon was named to the KSU Owls Invitational All-Tournament Team. She finished the tournament with 36 kills including a career high 20 against UNC Asheville after hitting .432. Cannon also had two double-doubles during the tournament.
» Kelly Marcinek had two more matches totaling double-digit kills the first weekend at home. She has had double-digit kills in five of the team's seven matches this season.
» Freshman Rachel Taylor received her first career start against No. 7 Purdue and responded with her best game early in 2014. She finished with three kills hitting .429 and had three blocks. 
» Libero Katarina Morton has made an instant impact on the defense for the Owls. She is fourth in the A-Sun averaging 3.78 digs per set. She also helps on offense with a very dangerous serve leading the team with 12 aces.
» Taylor wasn't the only freshman to step up against Purdue. Anaiah Boyer got a lot of time at right outside hitter on Saturday and responded. She finished two matches with 16 kills, six digs and three blocks. Against Purdue, Boyer hit .300.
» Cannon and Marcinek both had monster games against UNC Asheville. They both hit over .400 and combined for 41 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.
 

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