By: Mark Wasik
ASUN Tournament Quarterfinal #1
Thursday, November 18Â
10 a.m. – #2E seed Kennesaw State (19-8, 13-3 ASUN) vs #3W seed Eastern Kentucky (10-20, 7-9 ASUN)Â
Location:Â Fort Myers, Fla. | Alico ArenaÂ
Video Stream:Â ESPN+Â
Live Stats:Â StatbroadcastÂ
 KSU Game NotesÂ
Follow KSU Volleyball on Social - Twitter |  Instagram
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State opens play in the 2021 ASUN Volleyball Tournament on Thursday morning at 10 am as the second-seed from the East, and will be facing the third seed from the West division, Eastern Kentucky. This year's tournament is being held from Thursday-Saturday at Alico Arena on the campus of FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla. If the Owls win on Thursday, they would advance to Friday's semifinal round at 4 pm. The championship game for this year's tournament will start at 7 pm on Saturday night.
Kennesaw State is one of the hottest teams in the nation, bringing in the 8th-longest active win streak in the country at 11 games, which is also the second-longest win streak in school history. Included in that run is a season-sweep over North Florida, including last Friday's 3-0 win that clinched the second seed in the East for the Owls, and a 3-1 home upset win over FGCU, the only ASUN loss of the season for the Eagles.
The Owls have played themselves into the top 100 of the RPI (90th) thanks to the win streak, after a rough September in which the team struggled due to several injuries to key players, including outside hitter Lauren Chastang. The senior has fully recovered to one again stake her claim as one of the top and powerful hitters in the ASUN, and comes into this week's tournament needing just five kills to become the 10th player in conference history to reach 1,500 career kills.
KSU went 3-1 against the teams in its half of the bracket, as including a 3-1 win over quarterfinal opponent (and West third seed) Eastern Kentucky, if the Owls do advance to the semifinals, they went 2-0 against Stetson (East fourth seed), and dropped a tight 3-2 contest on the road at top West seed Jacksonville State. Against the teams in the bottom half of the bracket, the Owls were 1-0 against second West seed Lipscomb, 2-0 against third East seed UNF, 1-1 against top East seed FGCU and 2-0 against fifth East seed Liberty.
Â
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Super senior Lauren Chastang has done it all this season, as despite limited by injuries for several games earlier this season, is one of three players with over 200 kills with 319 while averaging 3.19 per set. She leads the team in aces with 45, as well as double-doubles (11). Another Owl having a great season is junior Emma Schufranz with a team-high 342 kills (3.45 per set) and a .272 hitting percentage. Senior Bri Becerra meanwhile is posting a team-high 3.05 digs per game and Claire Parsons is averaging a team-best 1.15 blocks per set.
Scouting the Colonels
Eastern Kentucky is 10-20 on the year and finished 7-9 in conference play, but did win four of its past five matches coming into the ASUN tourney. Pacing the squad this season has been Molly Michalak with 353 kills, while teammate Sarah Mitchell is close behind with 348. Sydney Schoen meanwhile has a team-high 4.9 digs per game average for EKU.
OWLS RACKING UP WEEKLy ACCOLADES
Kennesaw State made a lot of noise with its 11-game win streak, and several players were recognized as well for their performances as the Owls claimed five total ASUN Players of the Week awards over the past two five.
Leading the way was Lauren Chastang, who claimed a pair of honors to give her eight in her career, the second-most in league history and an Owl school record. Emma Schurfranz also was named Player of the Week twice, most recently on Nov. 15 after leading KSU to a 2-0 road sweep at North Florida and Jacksonville. Claire Parsons meanwhile was named Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18.
ACING THE COMPETITION
The Owls have thrived behind the line this season, as in games played through Nov. 16, they ranked 22nd in the nation in service aces per game with 1.83.
