Score: Kennesaw State 0, Valparaiso 3 (21-25, 21-25, 21-25)
Records: Kennesaw State (6-1), Valparaiso (7-0)
Key Players: Anaiah Boyer (Nine kills and nine digs), Kristi Piedimonte (33 assists and 9 digs), Rachel Taylor (six kills hitting .600), Katarina Morton (18 digs)
 
 BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team dropped its first match of the year to the Valparaiso Crusaders 3-0 on Friday, September 11.
 
Early in the first set, KSU jumped to a 12-7 lead forcing Valpo to use the first timeout of the game. The Crusaders came storming back on a 7-0 run forcing the Owls to call a timeout. Both team's traded points back and forth until Valparaiso grabbed a two-point lead and went on to take the first set 25-21.
 
In the second, the Crusaders held a two-point lead throughout the set. The Owls cut it to one twice, but couldn't get over the hump falling down 2-0 in the match.
 
The third set was a close one as each team was neck and neck through 20-20, but the Crusaders used a 5-1 run to close out the match in three sets.
 
KSU will be back on the court tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET against Elon and then 3 p.m. ET against Loyola Chicago.
 
Coach Schunzel on the First Loss of the Season
"I'm most disappointed in our lack of competitive greatness today. We built a nice lead early in set one, missed a serve out of a timeout and let them get back right into the game. We battled in sets two and three until right around the 20-20 mark and had chances in each set to take a lead and never came up with big plays to put us over the top. We'll be excited to get back on the court tomorrow against two more good teams.
Kennesaw State Head Coach Keith Schunzel
 
Notes
- With the first loss of the season, the Owls six-game win streak was snapped. The 6-0 start was the best start in school history.
- Kristi Piedimonte averaged 11 assists a set finishing with 33 for the match. She also had nine digs and three kills.
- Piedimonte once against spread out the kills with four players having at least six in the match. Rachel Taylor was one of those with six kills on ten attacks with zero errors.
- The Owls hit .250 for the match against Valpo. That is the fifth time in the seven matches that KSU has hit at least .250.
- Kennesaw State out-dug Valparaiso 53-45.

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.