Scores: Kennesaw State 3, Elon 0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-23)
Kennesaw State 0, Loyola Chicago 3 (20-25, 20-25, 20-25)
Records: Kennesaw State (7-2), Elon (2-9), Loyola Chicago (7-2)
Key Players
Elon Match: Kristi Piedimonte (28 assists and 10 digs), Kelly Marcinek (10 kills and seven digs), Liesl Engelbrecht (Seven kills)
Loyola Match: Kelly Marcinek (12 kills hitting .286), Kristi Piedimonte (25 assists and nine digs), Katarina Morton (15 digs)
 
 ELON BOX SCORE (XML) | ELON BOX SCORE (PDF) | LOYOLA BOX SCORE (XML) | LOYOLA BOX SCORE (PDF)

VALPARAISO, Ind. – After opening the day with a win against the Elon Phoenix, Kennesaw State finished the day 1-1 after dropping its second match to Loyola Chicago.
 
In the first match of the day in the Popcorn Classic, KSU came out with energy and took a four-point lead early in the match. Later in the set, the Owls used a 6-1 run to take a commanding lead and closed out the first to go up 1-0.
 
With the second set tied at 18, KSU used a 4-0 run to gain a small edge and that's all they needed to take a 2-0 lead.
 
With the chance to close out the match, Kennesaw State didn't waste any time taking the lead. Elon made a late push, but the earlier deficit proved to be too much as the Owls closed out the set and the match.
 
Loyola stormed out to an early 10-4 ead in the first set. The closest the Owls could get from there was three as the Ramblers took a 1-0 lead.
 
Early in the second the Ramblers used a 7-3 run forcing KSU to take a timeout down 12-8. Loyola stayed strong as they won the second set 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead.
 
KSU came out fighting in the third and built an early 5-1 lead, but the Ramblers battled back to tie the match at 14. Loyola extended its run to take a 19-16 lead forcing the Owls to take a timeout. After the timeout, Loyola kept its foot on the gas as they went on to close the match out.

The Owls will head back home now and prepare for a mid-week match against Chattanooga on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30.
  
Coach Schunzel on the Loyola Match
"In many phases of the game, that was the best we've played all weekend despite the result. Loyola is a very good team that puts a ton of pressure on you with the speed of their offense and the amount of different attackers they throw at you. As the game went on, we got better and better at slowing them down and killing the ball ourselves. That game was very good for us to prepare us for some teams we'll play down the road that play fast and are really aggressive in how they play the game."
Kennesaw State Head Coach Keith Schunzel
 
Notes
- The Owls beat the Phoenix 3-0 this morning. That is the fifth match this year that KSU has swept their opponents.
- Last season, the Owls home opener was against Elon, and the Phoenix won that match in five sets.
- Kristi Piedimonte had her first double-double of the season against Elon finishing with 28 assists and 10 digs. She led the team in both categories. She also finished with five kills today hitting .625
- Kelly Marcinek led the team in both matches finishing with 22 kills on the day. She also had two blocks and seven digs.
- Liesl Engelbrecht finished with a career-high seven kills in the match against Elon.

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.