Score: Kennesaw State 3, Illinois State 1 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19)
Records: Kennesaw State (3-1), Illinois State (2-3)
Key Players: Maddie Jones (20 kills and 18 digs), Katarina Morton (34 digs is new school record), Kristi Piedimonte (47 assists and 11 digs)

Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML) 
 
Score: Kennesaw State 3, St. Louis 0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-20)
Records: Kennesaw State (4-1), St. Louis (0-6)
Key Players: Sydni Shelton (16 kills hitting .438), Kristi Piedimonte (34 assists and 4 kills), Katarina Morton (14 digs)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML) 
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· Kennesaw State went 2-0 on Saturday topping Illinois State and St. Louis to finish 2-1 in the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic. This morning, KSU topped Illinois State in four sets with big outings from Maddie Jones and Kristi Piedimonte. In the last game of the tournament against home-team St. Louis, the Owls took care of business in three sets behind 16 kills from Sydni Shelton.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
Illinois State Match: The first set was a tight one until Kennesaw State opened up a lead with a 7-2 run going up 21-17. The Red Birds made a late run getting within one, but kills by Shelton and Jones gave KSU the edge early.
 
The Owls took control earlier in the second set with a 5-1 run to go up 12-8. They maintained that lead the rest of the way to go up 2-0 in the match.
 
After dropping the third set, KSU jumped out to an early lead over Illinois State scoring seven of the first eight points forcing the Red Birds use their timeouts early. The Owls pushed their lead out to as much as nine before closing out the match 3-1 against Illinois State.
 
St. Louis Match: The Owls faced the St. Louis Billikens to finish off the tournament. It was close throughout the first set until Kennesaw State used a 5-0 run late to go up 22-17. KSU and St. Louis traded points from there and Jones got a kill to give the Owls an early lead.
 
In the second set, Kennesaw State trailed late but won four of the final five points to win the set 26-24 and go up two sets in the match.
 
Kennesaw State came out strong in the third set pushing an early lead to 13-5.
 
The Owls finished off St. Louis 25-20 in the third set on Shelton's 16^th kill of the match for the three-set win.

SCHUNZEL QUOTE ON THE WEEKEND: 
"I could not be more proud of our team today. For two matches, we put on a clinic of how to compete at a championship level. We beat two very good teams today and did it in convincing fashion. Leaving this tourney playing like we did is a huge statement and step forward for our program."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 
· The Owls swept the day 2-0 to finish second in the tournament for a 2-1 finish.
· Kristi Piedimonte and Katarina Morton were named to the all-tournament team after the Owls went 2-1 on the weekend.
· In the two wins on Saturday, Piedimonte finished with 81 assists in the seven sets against Illinois State and St. Louis.
· Morton set a new school record against Illinois State with 34 digs in the match. The previous school record was 31.
· Jones had a career day against the Red Birds leading the team with 20 kills and then having 18 digs.
· Shelton had a big match against the Billikens, finishing with 16 kills hitting .438 with only two errors.
 

UP NEXT
Kennesaw State will host Georgia State on Monday, September 4 for Labor Day at 2 p.m. There will be a concert and free pizza on the green before the match for students.

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.