By: Mark Wasik
Friday, September 29
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (7-5, 0-1 ASUN) vs Stetson (7-7, 2-0 ASUN)
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
Sunday, October 1
1 p.m. – Kennesaw State (7-5, 0-1 ASUN) vs FGCU (9-5, 2-0 ASUN)
Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
KSU Game Notes
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball is hoping that a return to its home court will bring the Owls back to their winning ways, as KSU will host a pair of Atlantic Sun opponents this weekend in the Convocation Center.
Kennesaw State got off to a hot start to the season, winning seven of its first 10 games which included three victories over Power Five opponents. However, the Owls have dropped their last two contests, both on the road (3-0 at Xavier, 3-2 at Eastern Kentucky).
KSU is 2-1 at home this season, and 13-2 in the Convocation Center dating back to the start of the 2022 season. The Owls have also claimed five straight in the series against their first opponent of the weekend, the Stetson Hatters. Sunday's match meanwhile will come against the preseason favorite FGCU Eagles, who handed KSU its only home loss last season.
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 3.53 kills per set and also is third in points per set with 4.01. Senior defensive specialist Shelby Dennis is currently seventh in the ASUN with 4.0 digs per set, while a pair of Owls rank in the top 10 in blocks, as freshman Olivia Burrage is fourth (1.12 bps) and senior Claire Parsons is eighth (0.90 bps). Senior setter McKinley Ferguson tops the conference in assists with 10.05 per set. Also shining in 2023 is super senior Emma Schurfranz, who is 3rd in kills (3.4 kps), 10th in hitting percentage (.287), and second in points (4.2 ppg).
SCOUTING THE HATTERS...
After suffering a five-game losing streak, which included three losses to Power Five competition, Stetson bounced back in impressive fashion to start Atlantic Sun play. The Hatters claimed opener weekend victories over North Florida and Jacksonville to move to 2-0 in league action, and 6-6 overall. They are also 2-3 on the road this season, with victories at UNC Wilmington and Florida A&M in those school's home tournaments.
A pair of players are pacing the Hatters on offense, as Anabelle Standish is posting 3.33 kills per set while Sophia Groom is next with 2.33 kps. Also shinning this season is Haruka Sugimoto with 4.29 digs per set, while Groom also has a team-high 1.33 blocks per set.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES...
FGCU, the 2023 preseason favorites in the Atlantic Sun, brings a 9-5 mark into the weekend as the Eagles took on a challenging schedule that included games against Arizona State, Ole Miss, St. John's, Texas and Maryland. The Eagles claimed a win over Ole Miss, and currently are riding a two-game win streak after holding on for five-set victories over Jacksonville and North Florida.
A pair of players are both over 100 kills each, with Shelby Kent posting 2.43 kills per set and Alexandra Zakutney adding 2.36 kps. Juliana Lentz meanwhile is excelling at the net with 1.24 blocks per set.
