Friday, Apr. 2
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (11-2, 10-2) vs FGCU (13-2, 10-2)
Links: Live Stats | ESPN+
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram
Notes: KSU | FGCU
Tournament Bracket | Tickets

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State volleyball team's postseason tournament run continues Friday night as the Owls take on top-seeded south division foe FGCU. This will be the sixth straight season KSU and the Eagles will square off in the ASUN Tournament, having faced one another in the championship match the last three straight years. Three of the last six tournament meetings have gone to five sets with only one being decided in straight sets.

» KSU is coming off a dominant performance in the quarterfinals in which they hit .329 as a team to sweep Liberty. The match marked the fourth time this season the Owls hit over .300 as a team. KSU is one of the top-50 attacking teams in the nation currently ranked 36th in the NCAA for both kills per set (13.72) and hitting percentage (.256). Lauren Chastang (4.09) and Emma Schurfranz (3.50) rank second and fifth respectively in the ASUN for kills per set with Dani Ballou (2.89) ranked 10th. Schurfranz is also fourth in the league with a .352 hitting percentage, one of five players to hit over .300 on the year, while freshman Claire Parsons ranks ninth hitting .287. If maintained, the Owls' .256 hitting percentage would set a new single-season record with its 13.72 kills per set ranking third.

» Senior Lauren Chastang has been a major factor across the court for KSU, leading the team in kills (188) and aces (21) while ranked second for digs (103) and fourth for blocks (24). She ranks second in the ASUN and 33rd in the NCAA averaging 4.83 points per set. After logging 10 kills and seven digs in KSU's last match against Liberty she became just the third player in program history to rank among KSU's top-10 for both career kills and digs. Chastang currently ranks third for career kills (1,166) and 10th for digs (735).

» Freshman Claire Parsons has been a welcome addition to KSU's lineup this season leading the team with 47 blocks while hitting .287 with 83 kills. The Marietta, Ga., native is one of 14 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 1.85 aces per set to rank second in the conference and 23rd 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 21. Chastang recently became the second Owl in program history to hit the century mark for career aces with 106.

» Sophomore Emma Schurfranz has been an efficient force this year ranked fourth in the ASUN with a .352 hitting percentage. She is the only player in the league to hit over .300 while recording more than 150 kills. Her current .352 hitting percentage would set a new single-season record. Schurfranz ranks fourth in the league averaging 4.2 points per set, adding 40 total blocks and 12 aces to her season output.

THE THUNDER ROLLS
Lauren Chastang has brought the thunder this season, tallying 188 total kills, 103 digs, 25 blocks and 21 aces. She opened the year with her 33rd career double-double tying her career-high with 23 kills while adding 11 digs 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 (1,360). 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 4.09 average. With 1,166 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 75 more kills to break the all-time record for career kills.

With three double-doubles and 103 digs on the year, she recently became the third Owl in program history to rank among KSU's top-10 for both career kills and digs.

The Bay Minette, Ala., native ranks third in the ASUN averaging 0.46 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 106.

THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER
Emma Schurfranz has had the hot hand in her sophomore season hitting .352 on the year to rank fourth in the ASUN. She has hit over .400 in six matches while being held to less than .250 in only two matches.

She is fifth in the league averaging 3.50 kills per set, recording double-digit kills in 10 matches.

If maintained, her current hitting percentage would set a new single-season record.

THE BLOCK IS HOT
The Owls have had a formidable presence at the net this season ranked fourth in the ASUN averaging 2.3 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 47. Parsons (7th), Emma Schurfranz (12th) and Katie Crocker (15th) all 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 501 assists averaging 10.89 per set. That average currently ranks second in the ASUN and 19th 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 85 aces to rank third in the ASUN. KSU's 1.85 aces per set average ranks 23rd 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 21 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 1.85 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 (106) with Karlee Groover (98) needing two more to join her.

UP NEXT
If KSU defeats FGCU, it would earn a spot in the championship match Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 

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