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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team remained perfect in league play Sunday afternoon, defeating Stetson in straight sets, 26-24, 25-22, 25-14, for its third straight sweep in an emotionally charged Griffin's Game.
 
The fifth annual Griffin's Game was a special affair as the KSU community came together once again to raise $7,378 for Daniel Jones and his family in their fight with ALL.
 
How it Happened: Fired up out of the gates, the Owls (10-5, 3-0) and Hatters (2-10, 0-3) traded runs to open the match before back-to-back kills from Jasmine Brown gave KSU an 11-10 lead. Deadlocked at 12-12 the two squads went point-for-point with Stetson earning the upper hand, 24-22.
 
In jeopardy of dropping their first set of conference play, the Owls fought off back-to-back set points thanks in large part to Brown who registered a kill and two straight combo blocks with Emma Schurfranz to pull in front 25-24. Dani Ballou would cap off the 4-0 run with a kill to give KSU the 26-24 set victory.
 
The second set started off in similar fashion with the two teams battling for superiority. Tied 8-8, the Owls earned the edge behind a kill from Schurfranz and an ace from Karlee Groover, before extending their lead to 15-10 following a 4-0 run. KSU maintained that cushion deep into the set until a 5-1 run from Stetson pulled the Hatters within one, 23-22. The Owls brought a halt to Stetson's run with a kill from Quin Sutphin and a block by Brown and Lexi Broadwater to take the set 25-22.
 
The final set looked to be another hotly contested affair as Stetson evened the set at 8-8 behind a 4-0 run. Another 4-0 run, this time from KSU, followed by a 3-0 swing from Stetson kept the match close, 12-11. The Owls then switched it into another gear, going on an 8-0 run to take a 21-12 advantage. Sutphin and Lauren Chastang recorded three kills each during the run, while combining for a block, with Bri Beccera adding an ace. With the sweep in sight, KSU closed it out on a 3-0 run, capped off by a kill from Lanie Vantrease to secure the win.
 
Notes: As a team, the Owls hit .315 for the match, marking the second time this season KSU has hit for over .300 in a match … three Owls recorded double-digit kills, led by Lauren Chastang with 12 followed by Dani Ballou and Emma Schurfranz with 10 each … both Ballou (.421) and Schurfranz (.474) hit over .400 in the match, marking a career-high for Ballou and the fifth time this season, third in the last four, Schurfranz has hit over .400 … Quin Sutphin recorded her third straight match hitting over .500, logging nine kills on 16 swings with one error … Jasmine Brown finished with six kills, while getting in on three of KSU's five blocks on the day … Karlee Groover led the way with 14 digs followed by Shelby Dennis with nine and Chastang falling just short of a double-double with eight digs … Lexi Broadwater recorded 44 assists in the match, tying the second-most assists in a three set match in program history.
 
Quotes: Head Coach Keith Schunzel
On the battle with Stetson…
"Stetson's overall record is not very good, but their team is, they have some nice hitters, they have a good setter, they are well coached. They have been in a lot of four and five set matches against a lot of schools who have some really nice programs and they just haven't won them, so we knew it was going to be harder than what their record showed."
 
On KSU's offensive ability…
"Offensively, we are really pleased with where we are at. We need four or five players to put up numbers and that happened today, it can't just be a left side or a middle. What we have been really getting on them about, and what we have been trying to push forward, is our defensive intensity. What we are doing on that side of the ball needs to fuel us, not just our offensive intensity. Offensively, we have a nice tam, defensively we have to continue to dig balls and be great on that side of the ball too."
 
On Griffin's Game…
"This day is always so personal and special for Bri [Schunzel] and I, obviously going through it with our son Griffin. Every year it gets more and more meaningful because we are able to find these local families and raise money for them and get to know them and give them our love and support. They need to feel hope and that people are here for them. We are able to use this platform to do that and it makes us feel great and we just love that we can help these families."
 
Up Next: The Owls put their unbeaten record on the line this coming Friday (Oct. 4), traveling to Lipscomb to take on the Bisons at 7:30 p.m.