Kennesaw State Invitational Schedule:
August 26 
5 p.m. – Liberty vs. Pitt
7:00 p.m. - Kennesaw State vs. Missouri

August 27
10 a.m. – Pittsburgh vs. Missouri
12:00 p.m. – Kennesaw State vs. Liberty
5:30 p.m. – Missouri vs. Liberty
7:30 p.m. – Kennesaw State vs. Pittsburgh


Location: KSU Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
Links: ESPN3 | Live Stats | KSU Game Notes | Missouri Game Notes | Liberty Game Notes
Social Media: Twitter | Facebook
 
Game Preview
The Kennesaw State volleyball team is set to begin its 2016 season by welcoming one of the most competitive fields ever in the Kennesaw State Invitational. The Owls will start out by playing No. 17/29 Missouri on Friday, August 26 at 7 p.m. and then take on Liberty and Pitt on Saturday. There will be two matches total on Friday, August 26 and four matches on Saturday, August 27.
 
Kennesaw State Team Notes
• Kennesaw State is coming off of its best season in school history as it posted 19 wins and made it to its first Atlantic Sun Championship game in 2015.
• After finishing third in the ASUN a season ago, the Owls were picked to finish second this year as they return all of their starters as well as adding two freshmen in setter Lexi Broadwater and middle blocker Madeline Johnson.
• The team had four players honored with preseason awards as Katarina Morton was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Anaiah Boyer, Sydni Shelton and Kristi Piedimonte were all named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
• The Owls have a pair of players that are the active leaders in the ASUN in kills and digs. Kelly Marcinek leads the league with 908 career kills entering her senior season and Katarina Morton has the edge with 900 digs entering her junior season.
• Along with making the ASUN Championship game a season ago, head coach Keith Schunzel was named ASUN Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.
• Returning kills leader and First Team All-Conference member Anaiah Boyer is back for her junior season and looking to keep improving. After touching 10'5.5" in the offseason, she's hoping to build off of her 302 kill season.
• Sydni Shelton enters her sophomore season and had one of the best freshman seasons ever in a KSU uniform. She was named Second Team All-Conference and to the All-Freshmen team after finishing second on the team with 292 kills while swinging .275 on the year. Shelton was named ASUN Freshman of the Week four times, leading all freshmen.
 • Setter Kristi Piedimonte will be a third year starter as she has 1,949 career assists. Piedimonte has led the team in aces her first two seasons in an Owls uniform as well.
• Kennesaw State has two seniors this year in Kelly Marcinek and Fanise Cannon. They were both Schunzel and his staff's first two recruits signed after taking the job with KSU.
• The Owls led the conference in opponent hitting percentage and a big reason for that was the team's blocking. KSU had seven players that recorded over 30 blocks last season.
 
Next Up
After hosting the Kennesaw State Invitational, the Owls will go to Auburn for a midweek clash against the Tigers on Tuesday, August 30.
 
Stat Leaders (2015)
Kills: 302, Anaiah Boyer
Assists: 967, Kristi Piedimonte
Digs: 424, Katarina Morton
Blocks: 80, Rachel Taylor
Aces: 30, Kristi Piedimonte
Attack Percentage: .275, 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.
 
All tickets to all 2016 home volleyball contests are free throughout the year.
 

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