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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kennesaw State volleyball battled to a gutsy, come-from-behind victory against Samford, battling all the way back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Courtyard by Marriott Samford Invitational.
 
En route to the Owls' (3-0) win, senior middle blocker Liesl Engelbrecht became the all-time career blocks leader in Kennesaw State history, registering five total today to eclipse Rachel Taylor's' previous record of 251. Engelbrecht now stands alone at the top with 256 and counting.
 
Engelbrecht was named the Tournament MVP, while Maddie Jones and Karlee Groover made the all-tournament team.
 
"That was a tale of two completely different Kennesaw State teams," head coach Keith Schunzel said. "The first two sets was a team that got pushed around, was reactive to everything, and was getting blasted. Games three, four and five was the Kennesaw State team that I know."
 
Schunzel continued, "We're a team that is capable of competing at an incredibly high level, with a certain edge in how we play. We were engaged on every point, we competed in every phase of the game, we made adjustments on the fly, and our players responded with the fight needed to win. I hope our players take to heart the lessons from that match and I am so proud of the maturity it took to come back from 0-2 on the road against a strong Samford team."
 
Kennesaw State struggled mightily early to find an offensive groove in its third match in two days. Despite falling behind to the Bulldogs (2-1) 18-11, the Owls showed fight and brought it within three, 23-20 before ultimately dropping the first set.
 
The second set was more of the same, without the Owls' run at the end as they fell 25-13 to face the tall 2-0 Samford lead.
 
With the break, KSU made the needed adjustments and the offense began to click from the get-go. After being held to just two kills through two sets, Lauren Chastang got two in the third set and the Owls were able to push the lead to 11-7 at one point. The Bulldogs hung tight, but back-to-back Chastang kills, a Jones' kill and Lexi Broadwater ace capped a 5-0 run to get on the board 2-1.
 
The fourth set saw Kennesaw State and Samford battle neck-and-neck with zero headway for either team being made until late. Breaking the deadlock as the Owls' frontline who came up with two huge back-to-back blocks to give them a 15-11 lead. Chastang and Jones once again came down the wire getting key kills before freshman Jessie Cohen sealed the set win with a clutch ace.
 
With a fifth and deciding set forced, senior Jones caught fire and put the team on her shoulders. After having seven kills through four sets, the Grapevine, Texas native rifled six kills across the net in the final set to five the Owls a 13-8 lead. All teed up, Chastang finished the job, capping the comeback with a laser kill to take the set, 15-11, and the match.
 
Chastang led all KSU hitters with 14 kills on the day with Jones finishing with 13 behind her. Broadwater again led all setters with 51 assists, while Groover notched a team-high 16 digs.
 
The win marks the second time that Schunzel has started a season 3-0 and the third time in program history.
 
Kennesaw State is returns home for its home-opener on Thursday, Aug. 30 against High Point. The Owls then turn around and host Presbyterian on Friday, Aug. 31. First serve for both matches are set for 7 p.m.
 
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