By: Mark Wasik
Thursday, November 9
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (15-10, 8-6 ASUN) at Queens (4-22, 1-13 ASUN)
Location: Curry Arena | Charlotte, N.C.
Saturday, November 11
3 p.m. – Kennesaw State (15-10, 8-6 ASUN) vs Bellarmine (9-17, 7-7 ASUN)
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
KSU GAME NOTES
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball enters the final week of the regular season with a chance to finish as high as third in the Atlantic Sun, as the Owls will face travel partner Queens on Thursday night in Charlotte, before hosting a Senior Day contest against Bellarmine on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Historically the Owls have dominated the all-time series against this week's opponents, with a 2-0 mark against Queens, and a perfect 6-0 record against Bellarmine. Five KSU seniors will be honored pregame before the game against the Knights: Claire Parsons, McKinley Ferguson, Lanie Vantrease, Shelby Dennis and Emma Schurfranz.
Both games this week will be streamed live on ESPN+. The 2023 ASUN Tournament, that the Owls have already clinched a berth in, will be held on Nov. 16-18 in Fort Myers, Fla., on the campus of FGCU.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore outside hitter Manu Johnsen, 2022 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year and a preseason All-ASUN selection this season, currently leads the league and is top 50 in the nation in both kills (4.00 kps) and points (4.53 pps). Senior defensive specialist Shelby Dennis is currently fifth in the ASUN with 4.11 digs per set, while a pair of Owls rank in the top 10 in blocks, as freshman Olivia Burrage is third (0.97 bps) and senior Claire Parsons is seventh (0.91 bps). Also shining in 2023 is super senior Emma Schurfranz, who is seventh in kills (3.09 kps), and fourth in points (3.87 ppg).
SCOUTING THE ROYALS...
Queens brings a 4-22 mark into the final weekend of play, and have lost seven straight, with its lone Atlantic Sun victory coming at home over Central Arkansas, who currently stands in 11th place. A pair of players have 200+ kills, as Jordyn Johnson has 229 (2.54 kps) while Alleigh Johnson is next with 209 (2.55 kps). Kendall Buish paces the team in assists (7.96) and Jesse George is tops in digs (3.8 dps).
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS...
After going just 2-10 in non-conference play, Bellarmine has fared better in Atlantic Sun action, posting a 7-7 mark coming into the week. The Knights have lost five of their past six games however, and will close out on Thursday against third place Eastern Kentucky before facing the Owls on Saturday. Bailey Venard paces the team with kills with 250 (2.72 kps), while three more players have 150+ on the season. The Knights have used two main setters, Macie Garrison (5.95 apg) and Kylie VanHoy (3.43 apg), while on defense, Anna Lococo is posting 3.92 dps and Maddie Hagan is averaging 0.75 bpg.
