Score: Kennesaw State 3, USC Upstate 1 (25-15, 25-23, 25-15)
Records: Kennesaw State (11-4, 5-1), USC Upstate (5-13, 2-4)
Key Players: Katarina Morton (16 digs and 5 assists), Kristi Piedimonte (32 assists and 10 digs), Anaiah Boyer (14 kills hitting .355)
 
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THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State held its third annual Griffin's Game on Friday, October 13 and took down the Spartans in straight sets for the team's seventh sweep of the year.
 
Before the match, the team honored David Sannuti and his family while also introducing past Griffin's Game guests that have done a tremendous job in their fight against cancer. All of the proceeds tonight from t-shirt sales and donations will go directly to the Sannuti family.

An official count is still being done on how much money was raised and will be posted to KSUOwls.com.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
The first set was close in the early going, but Kennesaw State used a 4-0 run and then a 5-0 run to open up the set and take a 17-11 lead. The Owls kept their foot on the gas winning six of seven points and closed out the first set 25-15.
 
In the second set, the Owls grabbed the advantage at 17-13, but Upstate responded with a run of their own to tighten things up. The Spartans took a 21-20 lead, but out of a KSU timeout the Owls won the next three points and closed out the set with a Liesl Engelbrecht kill and a block from Rachel Taylor and Kristi Piedimonte.
 
Kennesaw State took command early in the third set going up 10-4 and Upstate struggled to get back into the set after that. KSU pushed their lead out to as much as eight before closing it out with three straight points and a Lauren Chastang kill.
 
SCHUNZEL QUOTE
"What a great night for our program. Every Griffin's Game is special because it's so important for Bri and I to give back when so many people have given to us in our fight. I was really proud that the team controlled their emotions as tonight tends to be a little more emotional. For the most part, we played really clean, consistent volleyball and we had a lot of great performances. Tonight our team and staff play for David Sannuti and all the other families in the country that are faced with this battle every day."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 
· Kennesaw State is 3-0 in Griffin's Games since they started in 2015.
· The Owls moved to 11-4 and 5-1 in the ASUN and are a perfect 7-0 at home.
· This was the team's seventh sweep of the season.
· Kristi Piedimonte and Katarina Morton spread the love tonight dishing out a combined 37 assists with two players reaching double-figures in kills and one finishing the match with nine. The team overall hit .272.
· Anaiah Boyer led the way in kills with 14 hitting .355 and finished with seven digs. Sydni Shelton was right behind her with 10 kills hitting .318.
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State will host NJIT on Saturday, October 14 at 7 p.m. in the KSU Convocation Center. The match will be broadcasted on Facebook Live.

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.
 
It is free admission to all home volleyball matches for the Owls.