Saturday, Mar. 27
6 p.m. – Kennesaw State (10-2, 10-2) vs Liberty (5-8, 5-7)
Links: Live Stats | ESPN+
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram
Notes: KSU | Liberty
Tournament Bracket | Tickets

TOP STORYLINES
» After nearly two weeks removed from the court, the Kennesaw State volleyball team is back in action opening the ASUN Tournament hosting No. 3 seed Liberty Saturday night in the Convocation Center. This will be the fifth time this season the Owls and Flames square off and the second straight year the two squads meet in tournament play. KSU swept the regular season series against Liberty, dropping only three sets over the four matches.

» KSU heads into its sixth straight ASUN Tournament after finishing 10-2 in the regular season, dropping its last two matches of the year to regular season champions Lipscomb. The Owls look to reach the conference championship for the fourth straight year, winning the ASUN title in 2019 and 2017. The Convocation Center will host the entire spring 2021 tournament with the semifinals and finals slated for next Friday (Apr. 2) and Saturday (Apr. 3). KSU looks to protect the Nest holding a 43-7 record in the Convo since the 2016 season.

» The Owls enter postseason play as one of the top-50 attacking teams in the nation currently ranked 39th in the NCAA for kills per set (13.74) and 44th for hitting percentage (.252). Lauren Chastang (4.14) and Emma Schurfranz (3.51) rank second and fifth respectively in the ASUN for kills per set with Dani Ballou (2.79) ranked 11th. Schurfranz is also fourth in the league with a .348 hitting percentage, one of six players to hit over .300 on the year, while freshman Claire Parsons ranks 10th hitting .278. If maintained, the Owls' .253 hitting percentage would set a new single-season record with its 13.74 kills per set ranking third.

» Freshman Claire Parsons has been a welcome addition to KSU's lineup this season leading the team with 44 blocks while hitting .278 with 78 kills. The Marietta, Ga., native is one of 11 players in the league to record at least 40 blocks and is currently ranked seventh averaging 1.02 blocks per set. She has won two ASUN Freshman of the Week awards as well as the league's Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 14 blocks against North Alabama.

» KSU has given opposing teams fits from the service line this year averaging 1.81 aces per set to rank second in the conference and 28th in the NCAA. The Owls have recorded double-digit aces three times this season including 13 against Liberty, one shy of the KSU single-match record. Four Owls have recorded at least 10 aces on the year led by Lauren Chastang with 19. Chastang recently became the second Owl in program history to hit the century mark for career aces with 104. Chastang currently ranks third in the league for aces per set followed by Jessie Cohen, Karlee Groover and Emma Schurfranz in a tie for 15th.

» Sophomore Emma Schurfranz has been an efficient force this year ranked fourth in the ASUN with a .348 hitting percentage. She is the only player in the league to hit over .300 while recording more than 150 kills. Her current .348 hitting percentage is .001 percent less than the current single-season record. Schurfranz ranks fifth in the league averaging 4.2 points per set, adding 35 total blocks and 11 aces to her season output.

THE THUNDER ROLLS
Lauren Chastang has brought the thunder this season, tallying 178 total kills, 96 digs, 24 blocks and 19 aces. She kicked off the year with her 33rd career double-double tying her career high with 23 kills while adding 11 digs in game one against Bellarmine.

She recently passed Kelly Marcinek (2013-16) for third on the all-time career points record list, becoming just the third Owl in program history to record over 1,300 career points (1,347). Chastang looks to replace the current career record of 1,390 held by Sabrita Gulley (2007-10).

She has recorded double-digit kills in all but one match this season, 20 or more in two, and is one of three players in the league to average over four kills per set ranked second with a 4.14 average. With 1,156 kills in her career Chastang is one of five players in KSU history to surpass 1,000 career kills, passing Marcinek for third all-time. She needs just 85 more kills to break the all-time record for career kills.

With three double-doubles and 96 digs on the year, she needs just five more digs to become the third Owl in program history to rank among KSU's top-10 for career kills and digs.

The Bay Minette, Ala., native ranks third in the ASUN averaging 0.44 aces per set. After recording her 16th ace of the season, she became the second Owl in program history to hit the century mark for career aces with 104.

THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER
Emma Schurfranz has had a hot hand in her sophomore season hitting .348 on the year to rank fourth in the ASUN. She has hit over .400 in five matches while being held to less than .250 in only two matches.

She is fifth in the league averaging 3.51 kills per set, recording double-digit kills in nine matches.

THE BLOCK IS HOT
The Owls have had a formidable presence at the net this season ranked fourth in the ASUN averaging 2.28 blocks per set. That average would rank third in KSU single-season history while marking just the fifth time in program history KSU has averaged over two blocks per set.

Seven Owls have logged at least 10 blocks on the year led by freshman Claire Parsons with 44. Parsons (7th), Emma Schurfranz (13th) and Katie Crocker (14th) rank among the league's top-15 for blocks per set.

If maintained, Parsons 1.02 blocks per set average would rank sixth in KSU single-season history, making her one of six Owls all-time to average over one block per set in a season.

SETTING THE STAGE
Taking over as KSU's starting setter for the first time in her career, Jessie Cohen opened her tenure with a bang in the Owls' season-opener, registering a career-high 53 assists.

She nearly earned her first career double-double as well adding a career-high nine digs to go along with six aces, a mark that tied the five-set program record.

Cohen has totaled 464 assists averaging 10.79 per set. That average currently ranks second in the ASUN and 29th in the NCAA. If maintained, it would rank third in KSU single-season history.

ACE UP OUR SLEEVE
The Owls have been deadly from the service line this year, totaling 78 aces to rank third in the ASUN. KSU's 1.81 aces per set average ranks 28th in the NCAA.

KSU is one of five teams in the league to record at least 70 aces despite playing in at least five fewer sets than the rest of the top-5.

Lauren Chastang leads the team and ranks fourth in the league with 19 aces. As a team, the Owls have recorded at least 10 aces in three matches this season, logging 13 at Liberty, a mark that is tied for second in KSU single-match history.

KSU's current 1.81 per set average would rank second in the KSU single-season record book.

Chastang recently became the second Owl in KSU history to reach the century mark for career aces (104) with Karlee Groover (98) needing two more to join her.

UP NEXT
If the Owls defeat Liberty, they would most likely take on the highest remaining south division seed in the semifinals next Friday (Apr. 2).
 

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