Score: Kennesaw State 3, Lipscomb 1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23)
Records: Kennesaw State (20-4), Lipscomb (16-13)
Key Players: Anaiah Boyer (16 kills, 20 digs, 4 blocks), Lauren Chastang (8 kills and 5 blocks), Liesl Engelbrecht (7 kills and 11 blocks)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML) | Photo Gallery 
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State clinched its spot in the ASUN Championship match by beating the Lipcsomb Bisons in four sets in Allen Arena.
 
The Owls set a school record with 22.5 blocks led by Liesl Engelbrecht and Rachel Taylor. Engelbrecht finished the match with 11 and Taylor finished with 10.
 
ASUN First Team All-Conference member Anaiah Boyer had a monster night leading the team with 16 kills, 20 digs and four blocks.
 
It will be the second time in three seasons the Owls have clinched a berth in the ASUN Championship.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Owls used an early 4-0 run in the first set to take a 5-2 lead and never looked back after taking the momentum. Later in the set, an 8-1 run to go up 23-12 left zero doubt about the first set. 
 
After Lipscomb tied things up at one by winning the second set, KSU used a huge 9-0 run to go up 14-5 in the third. The Bison didn't make things easy for the Owls though as they came back to get within two points.
 
The Owls were too tough at the net though with the block and extended their lead back out to win the set 25-19.
 
Looking to close things out in four, Kennesaw State inched out to a 12-8 lead forcing Lipscomb to take a timeout. Playing on their home court and with their backs against the wall, the Bison fought back. Head coach Keith Schunzel used a timeout when Lipscomb tied the score at 17 and it was just what the Owls needed. They responded out of the timeout winning the next three points to get to 20 first.
 
Kennesaw State pushed their run to 6-1 for a 23-18 lead, but the defending ASUN Champions weren't going to give up on their home floor. Lipscomb was able to spoil one match point, but freshman Lauren Chastang had a huge swing on the second to put the Bison away and clinch the second berth in the ASUN Championship in three seasons for the Owls.
 
SCHUNZEL QUOTE:
"That was a championship level match against a program with a lot of tradition. I'm really proud how we stayed composed and pulled out a tight fourth set. Obviously, we have another huge one tomorrow."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
· Kennesaw State defeated Lipscomb for the third time this season. It was the first time the Owls ever beat the Bison in less than five sets.
· The Owls set a school record with 22.5 blocks in the match. The previous record was set earlier this year in Allen Arena against Lipscomb as well. That night, KSU had 19 blocks in a five-set match.
· Rachel Taylor had 10 blocks in the game making her the Kennesaw State record holder for total blocks. The previous record was 243 by Holly Knight.
· Engelbrecht tied a single-game record with 11 blocks. She also had seven kills.
· That was the teams 20^th victory of the season giving the Owls the most win in program history for a single season.
· Boyer led the way for the Owls with 16 kills and 20 digs on the night. That is the most digs she's had this season.
· The Owls came out aggressive at the net and every front row player had at least one block in the first 15 points for Kennesaw State.
· Lipscomb hit .218 through the 14 conference matches. In the first set, Kennesaw State held them to a hitting percentage of .023. The Owls forced the Bison into 11 errors with 5.5 blocks in the opening set.
· Lauren Chastang had a big third set with five kills and no errors to help put the Owls up 2-1 in the match.


UP NEXT
The Owls will take on FGCU or Jacksonville in the ASUN Championship at 6 p.m. ET in Nashville, Tennessee at Allen Arena.
 
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.