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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball claimed the first set but couldn't match Sam Houston's energy the rest of the way, dropping a 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-23) match to the visiting Bearkats on Friday night in Conference USA action from the Convocation Center. In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, KSU dropped to 8-12, 5-4 in league play to fall into a tie for fifth place in the conference, while Sam Houston improved to 11-9, 6-3 in league play.
STAT OF THE GAME: KSU hit over .200 in just one set, while the Bearkats hit at least .235 in sets 2-4 to finish at .216 (49K-20E-134TA) for the game. The Owls meanwhile finished at .176 (51K-25E-148TA).
THE RUNDOWN – Olivia Burrage came up big for the Owls midway through set one, scoring three straight points off a pair of kills and a solo block to give KSU a 14-11 edge. Though the Bearkats came back to tie the game at 14-14, a 6-1 spurt put the Owls back up by five, and they ended the set with a 5-1 run to claim a 1-0 lead in the match. Set two was tied at 2-2 when the Bearkats took control with a 7-1 spurt. KSU came no closer than five the rest of the way, as Sah Houston tied the match at 1-1.
The next two sets were both tight battles. After a kill from
Maggie Butkovich brought the Owls within 19-18 in the third set, Sam Houston scored three straight to go back up four, and would hold set point at 24-20. The Owls stayed alive be scoring the next three points, but then served the next ball out of bounds, giving the Bearkats the 25-23 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match. The final set was back and forth with the lead changing hands several times. The Owls were tied for the last time at 17-17, until a 4-0 spurt gave the Bearkats the advantage. KSU closed within 22-20, and then down 24-20, again starved off three straight set points before Sam Houston clinched the match with a kill.
POSTGAME QUOTES
KSU HEAD COACH KEITH SCHUNZEL
"I thought we got outplayed and out-coached for the majority of that match. Our team was way too emotional, and not in a good way. We got lackadaisical on defense in set 2 and from that point on the match changed for the worst. We were way too fragile mentally tonight and simply lacked confidence and a killer instinct. And all that stuff starts with me. Tomorrow we'll need to make adjustments better and execute down the stretch, both things that Sam Houston did tonight and we didn't. But that's what veteran, experienced teams with a great setter do. We have a chance tomorrow to be better and change the narrative."
NOTES
-Three Owls finished in double-digits for kills, as
Manu Johnsen posted a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. Following her was
Caroline Chastang and Burrage, both with 10 each.
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Kourtney Brown finished with a team-high 21 assists, while Lead Freeman led the Owls with 20 digs.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls close out the weekend with a second game against Sam Houston on Saturday. The game starts at 2 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
