Score: Kennesaw State 2, Auburn 3 (18-25, 25-21, 25-15, 26-28, 10-15)
Records: Kennesaw State (1-3), Auburn (1-3)
Key Players: Liesl Engelbrecht (14 kills hitting .542), Amariah Boyer (13 kills with five blocks), Kristi Piedimonte (46 assists and 10 digs), Katarina Morton (27 digs)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State lost a heartbreaker at Auburn after going up 2-1 in the match. In an intense fourth set that went into extra points, the Tigers edged by the Owls 28-26 and then went on to win the final set and the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
First Set: The Owls got off to a really slow start in the match as the Tigers led 20-7, but KSU woke up and started to gain some momentum. Kennesaw State closed the set on an 11-5 run, but that wasn't enough to overcome the slow start.
 
Second Set: KSU carried the momentum it grabbed at the end of the opening frame into the second set to match the home team. As the set was tight throughout, KSU used a 5-1 run late to even the match at one after a 25-21 second set win.
 
Third Set: Coming out of the locker room, the Owls raised their level of play up another notch and the Tigers couldn't match it. Kennesaw State went on a big run in the middle of the set and cruised 25-15 to go up 2-1 in the match. KSU hit .310 in the set and held Auburn to a -.032 hitting percentage.
 
Fourth Set: Auburn bounced back in the fourth with more intensity to match KSU as neither team gave an inch. The largest lead was three early in the set by Auburn. The Owls had two match points, but the Tigers held them off and went on a 3-0 run to keep the match going.
 
Fifth Set: The Tigers grabbed an early three-point lead and KSU couldn't overcome it as the home crowd pushed the Tigers to the 15-10 set and match win.
  
SCHUNZEL QUOTE:
"Until we learn to close the door on people after getting up and putting ourselves in position to win the match, this will continue to happen to us. We have to learn to love the moment and embrace pressure situations. We're playing great volleyball and are doing tons of great things, but that's the one thing we're missing right now. We're going to keep searching and this team will get over that hump. Once we do, we're going to win a lot of volleyball matches."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 
· Liesl Engelbrecht had another big night for the Owls as she led the team with 14 kills hitting .542. She also had three blocks on the night.
· Kennesaw State had three teammates with double-digit kills. That is the most this season.
· Katarina Morton continued her stellar play this season with a match high 27 digs. The reigning ASUN Defensive Player of the Week has had 20-plus digs in three of the four matches this season. The one match she didn't have 20, she finished with 19.
· Kristi Piedimonte had her second double-double of the season with 46 assists and 10 digs. She also finished with three kills.
· Amariah Boyer stepped up once again for KSU with 13 kills and five blocks. 
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State stays on the road as they travel to Texas State's tournament this weekend to take on Tulsa, Texas State and Stephen F. Austin. The Owls will have two matches on Friday and one on Saturday.

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.