By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State volleyball will be challenged early with a pair of road tournaments at Power Five opponents, as the Owls' 2022 schedule was officially released on Thursday.
Among the highlights of the non-conference portion are the season-opening tournament at Wake Forest, along with September's Maroon and White Invite, a four-team tournament hosted by Mississippi State.
"I was super excited to put this schedule together," said KSU head coach
Keith Schunzel. "We've always pushed the envelope with our non-conference schedule and this fall will be no different. We'll test ourselves against a number of NCAA tournament quality teams as well as continue with some outstanding regional rivalries."
This fall's ASUN slate will be deeper than it's ever been and wins continue to get harder and harder to come by in what's become one of the most underrated volleyball leagues in the country. Our players want schedules like this and will be busting their tails this summer to prepare."
The season begins with the Owls' first game in the Wake Forest Tournament, a contest against Western Carolina on Aug. 26. That will be followed by a pair of games the next day, with the Owls facing NC Central before taking on the host Demon Deacons in the nightcap.
KSU will return to Kennesaw for a three-game homestand in the Convocation Center. The 2022 home opener is set for Sept. 1 against the Furman Paladins, while the Owls will take on High Point on Sept. 2. A Sept. 6 match with Samford completes the three-game stretch.
Perhaps the toughest three-game stretch of the season follows for the Owls, beginning with KSU's opening match in the Maroon and White Invite against the host MSU Bulldogs on Sept. 8. That's followed by contests with South Alabama (Sept. 9) and Houston (Sept. 10), all in Starkville. The non-conference portion will conclude with a home game with UAB on Sept. 14.
The Owls' 16-game ASUN schedule will start with a pair of home games on Sept. 23 and 24, against North Alabama and Central Arkansas, respectively. Other highlights of the conference slate include KSU's first trip to new league member Queens on Oct. 1, and a home contest against defending conference champion FGCU on Oct. 29. The regular season will conclude for KSU on Nov. 13 at home against Central Arkansas.
The 2022 ASUN Tournament will be held on Nov. 17-19, and is hosted this year by Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.
Highlighting the returnees for KSU for 2022 is First-Team All-ASUN selection
Emma Schurfranz, one of five returning starters from an Owl squad that placed second in the ASUN East with a 13-3 league mark, 20-9 overall.
