Saturday, October 24
3 p.m. – Kennesaw State vs. USC Upstate
Links: Live Stats | ESPN3 | Game Notes
Social Media: Twitter | Facebook
 
Game Preview
After sweeping both matches the previous weekend, Kennesaw State starts the second half of Atlantic Sun play at USC Upstate on Saturday, October 24 at 3 p.m.
 
Earlier in the season, KSU beat Upstate in five sets in the KSU Convocation Center. After the match, Sydni Shelton was named A-Sun Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week as she finished with 23 kills hitting .377 and had zero errors.
 
Upstate's one A-Sun win came against NJIT in three sets last Sunday. The Spartans currently lead the country in digs per set averaging 18.17 and attacks per set averaging 40.70.
 
The last three matches between the Owls and Spartans have gone five sets.
  
Kennesaw State Team Notes
•The win against Lipscomb was the first in program history for Kennesaw State. The loss was the first home A-Sun loss the Bisons have had since ETSU beat them October 4, 2013. It is the first home loss to a current A-Sun school since FGCU beat them in 2012.
• This season, Kennesaw State has two wins over top 100 teams in the RPI. The Owls defeated Georgia Tech in four sets and Lipscomb in five sets. It's next top 100 opponent will be when Lipscomb comes to Kennesaw for a showdown on Halloween.
• Against the Bisons on Sunday, KSU tied a school record with 18 blocks. The Owls had broken the previous record of 16 earlier this season against USC Upstate when the team also had 18 blocks.
• Rachel Taylor led the team with 10 blocks against Lipscomb. In the fifth set with the match tied at 11, Taylor had a solo block and two block assists with Kelly Marcinek to clinch the match in five.
• Kennesaw State currently leads the A-Sun in opponents hitting percentage at .169. They are also third in the league in hitting percentage at .226. The Owls have two players in the top ten with Shelton hitting .293 and Taylor hitting .258.
• A big part of leading the A-Sun in opponent hitting percentage is being second in the league in blocks. The Owls average 2.15 blocks per set. In conference matches, KSU is first in the A-Sun with 78.0 blocks in seven matches and second in the conference averaging 2.69 blocks per set. The Owls have had double-digit blocks in four of its seven A-Sun matches.
• In conference matches, Kennesaw State has three players in the top seven in blocks per set. Liesl Engelbrecht is third with 29.0 blocks in 25 sets and averages 1.16 per set. Amariah Boyer is fourth with 25.0 blocks in 22 sets averaging 1.21 blocks per set and Taylor is tied for fifth averaging 1.12 blocks per set.
• Against FGCU, Maddie Jones set a career high with 30 digs in the match. It was the second time this season that an Owl has had a 30 dig performance. Earlier in the year Katarina Morton tied a school record with 31 against USC Upstate. It is the third 30 dig match that an Owl has had in the last two seasons.
• Kristi Piedimonte is fourth in the A-Sun averaging 9.47 assists per set. She has 625 on the season in 66 sets.
 
Next Up
The Owls will return home after a five-match road trip. On Friday, October 30, KSU will play NJIT for Griffin's Game. At the game, Kennesaw State will be raising money for two families to help them with there fight against cancer.
 
Stat Leaders (2015)
Kills: 194, Anaiah Boyer
Assists: 625, Kristi Piedimonte
Digs: 247, Katarina Morton
Blocks: 48, Liesl Engelbrecht
Aces: 15, Kristi Piedimonte
Attack Percentage: .293, Sydni Shelton
 
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 2015 home volleyball contests are free throughout the year.