By: Mark Wasik
Tuesday, October 10
6:30 p.m. – Kennesaw State (8-8, 1-4 ASUN) vs Queens (3-14, 0-5 ASUN)
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball is looking for a boost from its home court as the Owls are back in the Convocation Center on Tuesday night with a 6:30 p.m. contest against Queens in an Atlantic Sun Conference contest. There will be a pre-game tailgate concert by the Owls' own drummer Andrew and his band at 4:15 on The Green on the KSU campus, while free T-shirts will also be available for the first fans through the doors.
KSU got off to a hot start to the season, winning seven of its first 10 games which included three victories over Power Five opponents. Injuries have struck the Owls in league play though, and KSU comes into the contest looking to stop a three-game slide in league action. Four of KSU's five games in ASUN play have also gone the full five sets.
This is just the second-ever meeting between KSU and the league's newest member, as the Owls claimed a 3-0 sweep in Charlotte a year ago.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore outside hitter
Manu Johnsen, 2022 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year and a preseason All-ASUN selection this season, ranks second in the conference with a team-high 3.38 kills per set and is fourth in points per set with 3.89. Senior defensive specialist
Shelby Dennis is currently seventh in the ASUN with 4.09 digs per set, while a pair of Owls rank in the top 10 in blocks, as freshman
Olivia Burrage is third (1.03 bps) and senior
Claire Parsons is sixth (0.96 bps). Senior setter
McKinley Ferguson is fourth in the conference in assists with 9.47 per set. Also shining in 2023 is super senior
Emma Schurfranz, who is 5th in kills (3.17 kps), and third in points (3.92 ppg).
SCOUTING THE ROYALS...
Queens has continued to struggle in its move up to the Division I level. After posting a 7-22 mark in 2022, the Royals bring a 3-14 mark into Tuesday's contest, their first trip to Kennesaw. The team has also lost six straight, with the last victory a 3-0 win over Duquesne on Sept. 16 in a tournament at Virginia Tech.
Offensively the Royals have three players that have posted over 100 total kills so far this season, led by Jordyn Johnson's 2.58 kills per set. Alleigh Johnson is next with 2.45 kps, while Kayla McDuffie is posting 1.74 kps. Kendall Buish paces the team's setters with 7.92 assists per set, while Jesse George is averaging 4.42 digs per set.
