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HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Kennesaw State volleyball team rallied from two sets down in consecutive days, this time to top Furman University in a five-set instant classic, 25-23, 21-25, 29-31, 25-21, 15-9, Saturday at the High Point Invitational.
How it happened: Four service aces and 17 kills led KSU (4-2) to the exciting 25-23 decision in the first set. Karlee Groover's service ace capped off a seesaw affair, and Madeline Johnson led KSU with six kills.
After hard-fought battles in the second and third sets, the Owls found themselves down 2-1. In the fourth set, five services aces and 12 kills led to a 25-21 win. Trailing 8-2 early, the Owls called a timeout to renew energy and focus. That resulted in a 6-1 run including a couple of Dani Ballou kills. KSU won the final two points of the set thanks to a Furman attack error and a kill from Johnson.
KSU ran away in the deciding set with a .579 hitting percentage and 12 kills. The deciding point came thanks to a block by Ballou and Johnson. Chastang had five kills in the set.
Notes: Lauren Chastang recorded her fifth straight double-double, leading the team with 22 kills, one shy of her career-high, to go along with a career-high 21 digs … three Owls recorded double-digit digs with Karlee Groover leading the team with an incredible 32 to set a new career mark and Bri Becerra recording 10  … Chastang was joined in double-digit kills by Ballou (19), Emma Schurfranz (14), and Johnson (12), all career-highs … Lexi Broadwater continued the career-high trend recording 63 assists in the match, the first time since September of 2016 that an Owl recorded 60 or more assists in a match ... KSU totaled 76 kills to Furman's 56, and had more digs, 85 to 71 ... as a team, the Owls served a program record 14 aces, four from Chastang, three from Broadwater and Groover and two each from Becerra and Ballou.
Quotes:Â Head Coach Keith Schunzel
On the team's performance...
"I'm really proud of our team. This was another long, grueling battle, against another good team, that took some mental fortitude for us to stay the course.  When our level of play dropped in the middle sets, we were mature and tough enough to keep competing. By mid way through set four and all of set five we were back to playing big time ball. To finish the match hitting .579 in the fifth set, with only one attacking error, is an incredible way for our women to close out the match."
Up next: The Owls close the High Point Invitational tomorrow, facing host High Point at noon.
