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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball went to five sets for the third straight time in as many games to start the Atlantic Sun Conference season, but couldn't hold off visiting FGCU at the end as the Owls were handed a 3-2 (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 15-10) on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center. KSU (8-6, 1-2 ASUN) held late leads in both the second and third set before the Eagles (11-5, 4-0) rallied in both for a 2-1 edge.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls did not hit .200 or above in any set, and were held to just .043 in the final fifth set. FGCU meanwhile posted a .343 in the third set and .280 in the clinching fifth set.
THE RUNDOWN – The Owls trailed to start the day as both teams began with several errors in the early afternoon contest. KSU would take advantage of the errors to reel off a 6-1 run, turning a 15-15 contest into a 21-16 score. A kill from Claire Parsons put the Owls up 1-0. KSU then scored nine straight for a 10-1 advantage in set 2, but FGCU slowly climbed back into the contest. After back-to-back errors put the Owls up 22-19, KSU would not score again, with a 6-0 spurt making the score tied at 1-1. Again the Owls held a late lead in the set, this time 18-17 thanks to a Gracie Pynes ace. A 5-0 run gave the edge back to the Eagles and they finished off the five-point set win. Set four was back and forth, and was tied eight times, the last at 22-22. KSU scored the final three to claim the win, putting the Owls in a five-set match for the third straight ASUN contest. Set five was an 8-7 contest in favor of the Eagles when they scored off three straight for a 10-6 edge, and KSU came no closer than three the rest of the set.
POST-GAME QUOTES
KSU HEAD COACH KEITH SCHUNZEL
"Tough game against a longtime conference rival. We've had so many battles with these guys over the last decade. Both of our programs have gotten better because of each other and that's always fun to be a part of. Today, for large stretches we definitely played the best level we have in a couple weeks which is a positive. We had leads late in sets 2 and 3 and weren't able to close, partially because we had a number of moments where we were in our own head down the stretch in those sets. That's a pattern that we'll need to make a point to change if we want to close out sets and win matches. We frankly very easily could have swept today, but unfortunately didn't have the moxie or composure to finish and that's frustrating as a coach. I've got to do my part to help our team grow through that and we need to stay positive because we have a bunch of league games left to play."
NOTES
-KSU moves to 4-2 on the season in five-set matches.
-The Owls held a 7-6 edge on service aces, while the Eagles outblocked KSU 13-8.
Emma Schurfranz paced KSU with 18 kills and a team-high .225 hitting percentage.
-Manu Johnsen claimed her sixth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 10 digs. McKinley Ferguson also added a double-double thanks to 35 assists and 11 digs.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls will be off to the River City for a pair of games, starting on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. against North Florida. That will be followed by a Saturday, Oct. 7 match at Jacksonville with a 5 p.m. start.
