Friday, October 14
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (12-4, 5-1 ASUN) vs Bellarmine (8-10, 2-4 ASUN)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Video Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
Saturday, October 15
6 p.m. – Kennesaw State (12-4, 5-1 ASUN) vs. Eastern Kentucky (12-8, 3-3 ASUN)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Video Stream: YouTube
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
KSU Game Notes  
 
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KENNESAW, Ga. –  Kennesaw State volleyball is putting its first-place standing on the line this weekend as the Owls are hosting a pair of ASUN challengers in the Convocation Center this weekend. First up is a Friday, 7 pm contest against Bellarmine, and following the game there will be a poster autograph session for all fans with the players. Saturday will see Bellarmine make the trip to Kennesaw for a 6 pm contest, and any fan that shows their ticket from that afternoon's KSU football game will receive a free KSU Volleyball T-shirt (up to the first 150 fans).
      In its last action, KSU bounced back from its first conference loss (on Sept. 30 at Liberty) in impressive fashion, sweeping a pair of matches over then top-50 Jacksonville State to take over sole possession of first place in the ASUN with a 5-1 mark. Thanks to its consecutive wins over Jacksonville State, the Owls have moved into the RPI Top 40 at No. 39, the highest of all ASUN squads.
      The Owls have won their past 12 straight home games, which is tied for the eighth-longest active home win streak in the nation. All-time, the Owls are a perfect 5-0 against Bellarmine, including last year's 3-0 victory. KSU has been just as successful against EKU with a 3-1 lead in the all-time series. The last meeting between the two was a 3-0 victory by the Owls in the 2021 ASUN quarterfinals at FGCU.
      The biggest key for KSU this season has been its overall depth, as a year ago the Owls were led mostly by the same two players on offense. This year is seeing a very balanced attack, as KSU is routinely playing 11-12 players a match, while the top five players in the kills category all range between 97-139.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
      Dani Ballou is shining in her final season with the Owls, as the outside hitter is currently seventh in kills per set with a team-high 3.16, and is fifth in aces with 0.41 per set. Also ranking high on the charts is junior setter McKinley Ferguson who having an outstanding junior season, ranking first in the ASUN in aces  (0.53 saps) and fourth in assists (10.36 aps).  Claire Parsons is fourth in the ASUN hitting percentage (.344) and second in blocks (1.20 bps), while Jasmine Brown is third in hitting percentage at .345. Shelby Dennis meanwhile paces the team in digs with 4.23 per set.
 
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
      Bellarmine ended their non-conference season at 6-6, but have found the going tougher once it hit ASUN play, having lost four of six matches. Most recently, the Knights are coming off a weekend in which it lost at home in five sets to Liberty before recording a 3-0 sweep over Queens.
      Leading the team this season is Jayme Scott, with an impressive 4.2 kps average, while three more players have over 100 kills total. Defensively, Anna Lococo is notching 4.25 digs per set for Bellarmine.
     
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
      Eastern Kentucky is looking for its first ASUN road win of the season after dropping a pair of games at Central Arkansas and North Alabama. EKU did rebound this past weekend with a sweep over Queens and a five-set 3-2 victory against Liberty.
      The Colonels are paced on offense by the duo of Molly Michalak (2.88 kps) and Sarah Mitchell (2.69 kps), though both players are hitting under .200. In fact, EKU as a team comes in hitting .188 for the season. Josie Schmitendorf paces the team in digs with 4.04 per set.
 

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