By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – KSU volleyball's Emma Schurfranz was one of seven players named Preseason All-ASUN, while the Owls have been picked third in the 2022 Preseason ASUN Coaches Poll, the league announced on Thursday.
Schufranz, a senior from Louisville, Ky., is one of five returning first team selections from a year ago that were selected to the 2022 preseason squad. The top returning offensive threat for the Owls and right-side hitter led the team and was fourth in the ASUN with 3.67 kills per game, while her 40 total aces were the sixth-highest mark in the league. One of the more accurate hitters in the ASUN (ninth in hitting percentage at .283), Schurfranz was strong at the net as well, finishing 11th with 93 total blocks and fifth in block assists (88). Twice during the 2021 season she was named ASUN Player of the Week and posted double-digit kills in 23 matches.
As a team, the Owls used a late season 12-match win streak to post their fourth 20-win season in the past five years to finish 20-9 overall and 13-3 in the ASUN which placed them second in the East division. KSU, who returns five starters from last year's squad, received 157 points in the preseason poll for third place, behind preseason favorite and defending ASUN champion Florida Gulf Coast (191 points) and 2021 West division champion Jacksonville State, who received 167 votes for second place. The top eight teams in the ASUN will advance to the league's postseason tournament, hosted this year in Nashville, Tenn., by Lipscomb.
The Owls will begin the 2022 season on the road at the Wake Forest Invitational against NC Central on Friday, Aug. 26. KSU's home opener will be on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Furman in a 7 pm contest.
2022 ASUN Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll
Place Team (1st place votes) Votes
1. Florida Gulf Coast (13) – 191
2. Jacksonville State – 167
3. Kennesaw State – 157
4. Lipscomb – 138
5. Liberty – 134
6. North Florida – 133
7. Austin Peay – 104
8. Stetson – 91
9. Eastern Kentucky – 87
10. Central Arkansas – 83
11. North Alabama – 64
12. Jacksonville – 50
13. Bellarmine – 43
14. Queens (1) - 28
2022 Preseason All-ASUN Team
Erin Shomaker, Sr., OH, FGCU
Lily Felts, Sr., OH, FGCU
Chelsey Lockey, Sr., S, FGCU
Zoe Gonzales, Sr., MB, Jacksonville State
Lena Kindermann, Gr., OH, Jacksonville State
Emma Schurfranz, Sr., RS, Kennesaw State
Rocio Moro, Jr., L, North Florida
