Score: Kennesaw State 2, Georgia Tech 3 (21-25, 27-25, 26-24, 10-25, 9-15)
Records: Kennesaw State (1-8), Georgia Tech (6-2)
Key Players:  Anaiah Boyer (12 kills, 13 digs), Kelly Marcinek (12 kills), Katarina Morton (27 digs)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

Score: Kennesaw State 0, Georgia 3 (20-25, 21-25, 25-27)
Records: Kennesaw State (1-7), Georgia (7-0)
Key Players: Anaiah Boyer (13 kills, 12 digs), Katarina Morton (21 digs)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
 
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State pushed Georgia Tech to its limits in a five-set match in the Georgia Challenge. After dropping the opening set, KSU battled back winning the next two sets in extra points, but Tech responded in a great atmosphere in O'Keefe Gymnasium to win the final two sets. With the loss to Tech, Kennesaw State was 0-2 on the day after falling to Georgia earlier in the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
Georgia Tech Match: The first set was a back and forth affair until late when it was tied at 17 and the Yellow Jackets used a 6-0 run to get some separation. The deficit was too much to overcome for the Owls as they went down one set.
 
In the second set, Georgia Tech took control early and continued to build a lead that grew as many as seven at 21-14. With their backs against the wall, Kennesaw State responded with a 7-1 run to get within one of the lead. In the run, Sydni Shelton had four kills giving the Owls momentum. After spoiling a set point, KSU won the final two points to even the match up at one going into the break.
 
The Owls came out in the third set riding the wave of momentum they picked up at the end of the second and stormed out to a 6-2 lead. Tech went on a run of their own to get back in the set and took a late 23-20 lead, but KSU showed their resiliency once again going on a 6-1 run to take the set 26-24 and the lead in the match 2-1.
 
After dropping the fourth set, Kennesaw State fell down early in the match and tried to get back in it, but the Yellow Jackets wouldn't be denied in front of their home crowd sealing the match in five.   
 
Georgia Match: In the first match of the day, the Owls couldn't get going against Georgia. The Bulldogs took control of the match early and went up 2-0. KSU tried to get it going in the third set, but UGA clinched the match in extra points in the third set.
 
SCHUNZEL'S QUOTE:
"We made a huge step forward tonight in how we approach competing against good teams, how we approach the rest of our non-conference schedule and how we approach consistently competing at a high level. We knew going into the season that our non-conference schedule would have plenty of challenges. Tonight in Tech's gym, we stepped up against a really good team in a very tough environment. We played with the mentality and the edge that we need to play with to be successful. I really like what I saw tonight, and it shows me that we're growing into who we need to be on the court to be successful."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 
· Anaiah Boyer had two double-doubles today giving her three on the season. In the first match against Georgia, she had 13 kills and 12 digs and against Georgia Tech she had 12 kills and 13 digs.
- Katarina Morton finished with the day with 27 digs against Georgia Tech and 21 digs against Georgia. She has 20-plus digs in seven of the team's nine matches this season.
- Kelly Marcinek reached double-figure kills for the first time this season finishing with 12. She is the career leader in kills in the ASUN.
- Tonight against the Yellow Jackets, KSU had three players in double-figures with kills and four players in double-figures with digs.

UP NEXT
Kennesaw State has one more match in the Georgia Challenge against Georgia State on Friday, September 9 at 3 p.m. in O'Keefe Gymnasium at Georgia Tech.

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.